* 


K  RUSSIKN 

STO  RY 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


She  raised  her  eyes  to  his  face. 


MICHAEL 

AND 

THEODORA 

A   RUSSIAN   STORY 


AMELIA    E.    BARR, 

AUTHOR   OF  "BORDER    SHEPHERDESS,"  "  BOW   OF   ORANGE 
RIBBON,"    "THE   PREACHER'S    DAUGHTER,"    ETC. 


Copyright  1892, 
liy  BKAIJLKY  &  WOODRUFF. 

All  rights  reserved. 


CONTENTS. 


(  'llAPTFH 

I  

PACK 

5 

u 

II     .... 

27 

n 

Ill  

54 

a 

IV     .... 

70 

u 

v  

89 

u 

VI         .  • 

115 

(I 

VII. 

140 

TWO     CHILDREN   WITH     ONE 
HEART. 


I. 

TT  was  Theodora  and  Michael  Bazaroff 
-*•  who  made  this  story.  Holding  it 
sacred,  I  shall  not  alter  it.  All  is  here 
as  it  happened. 

Theodora  and  Michael  Bazaroff  were 
the  children  of  the  Prince  Ivan  Bazaroff, 
and  of  his  wife,  the  Princess  Nadia.  The 
family  were  exceedingly  rich,  and  of  the 
noblest  strain  in  Russia,  and  Prince  Ivan 
had  spent  his  youth  in  close  relations  with 
the  Czar  and  his  court.  His  prosperity 
was  so  great,  and  his  position  so  lofty, 
that  it  seemed  impossible  he  should  ever 
know  the  meaning  of  poverty  or  disgrace. 

Yet  in  a  single  night  misfortune  over- 


6  Michael  and   Theodora. 

took  him.  An  enemy  spoke  a  word  or 
two  in  the  Czar's  ear,  and  the  accusation 
was  so  plausible  and  so  likely  that,  with 
out  charge  and  without  trial,  Prince  Ivan 
and  his  beautiful  wife  were  cast  into 
prison,  and  from  thence  secretly  removed 
to  the  awful  land  of  Siberia.  They  were 
taken  away  at  midnight,  without  knowl 
edge  of  each  other's  destination,  and  with 
out  any  opportunity  of  saying  farewell 
to  their  children. 

Then  Prince  Sergius  Bazaroff  came  in 
the  Czar's  name  as  guardian  of  the  estate, 
and  of  his  young  nephew  and  niece,  and 
all  the  people  trembled  at  his  dark  face 
and  violent  manners.  Prince  Sergius  had 
long  hated  his  brother ;  he  had  gladly 
been  the  instrument  of  his  ruin,  and  he 
rejoiced  in  it.  Was  it  likely,  then,  he 
would  love  Theodora  and  Michael? 

He  did  not,  indeed,  openly  and  fla 
grantly  ill  use  them.  They  had  the  food 
and  clothing,  and  the  service  suitable  to 


Michael  and   Theodora.  7 

their  rank.  But  he  taunted  the  children 
with  their  parents'  degradation ;  he  de 
scribed  to  the  innocent  little  ones  the 
intolerable  sufferings  they  were  enduring, 
and  when  they  wept  at  his  words  he 
called  their  tears  "treason,"  and  terrified 
their  childish  hearts  with  cruel  suspicions 
and  dreadful  threats.  So  day  by  day 
they  trembled  in  his  presence,  or  listened 
in  fear  to  his  terrible  voice,  as  he  went 
raging  about  among  his  slaves,  or  sitting 
at  his  dinner-table  until  after  midnight, 
shouting  out  wild  Tartar  battle  songs. 

One,  two,  three  comforts  had  these 
little  children.  First  of  all,  they  loved 
the  good  God  truly  with  all  their  hearts ; 
and  the  good  God  knows  how  to  comfort 
those  who  love  him.  Second,  they  loved 
each  other  with  a  strong,  unselfish  affec 
tion.  Michael  thought  first  of  all  of  his 
sister's  happiness ;  and  Theodora,  with 
purest  prayers  and  tenderest  love,  clung 
to  her  brother  Michael.  Third,  they  were 


8  Michael  and   Theodora. 

both  very  faithfully  loved  by  those  who 
had  them  in  their  care.  Theodora's  nurse, 
Matrina,  taught  her  how  to  knit  and  em 
broider,  and  how  to  behave  herself  like  a 
Russian  princess  ;  and  she  talked  to  her 
continually  of  her  absent  father  and 
mother,  and  reminded  her  when  the  hours 
to  pray  for  them  came.  Very  frequently 
she  would  say,  — 

"  Now,  we  will  talk  a  little  of  the  good 
Prince,  your  father.  How  brave  he  was  ! 
How  truly  pious !  How  noble  and  how 
handsome !  When  he  was  mounted  on 
his  black  horse  —  when  he  wore  his  white 
and  gold  uniform  —  there  was  no  prince 
in  all  Russia  that  was  fit  to  hold  his 
stirrup.  Indeed  this  is  the  truth.  You 
yourself,  dear  Princess,  can  remember  ?  " 

"  Alas,  alas,  Matrina  !  I  remember  till 
my  heart  breaks  with  sorrow." 

"And  then,  also,  how  lovely  was  the 
most  excellent  Princess,  your  mother !  T 
shall  be  happy  to  my  dying  day,  only 


Michael  and   TJieodora.  9 

to  have  seen  her.  Have  you  memory  of 
that  night  when  she  came  to  you  in  a 
saraphan  of  silver  brocade,  buttoned  with 
sapphires?  Her  lovely  white  arms  were 
covered  with  jewels,  but  she  took  you 
from  your  little  couch  and  carried  you  in 
them.  She  held  you  close  to  her  breast ; 
she  kissed  you,  and  said  a  prayer  over 
you,  when  you  fell  asleep  again.  Only 
your  guardian  angel  could  love  you 
better  than  your  sweet  mother !  that  I 
know  well." 

Theodora  remembered  that  night.  She 
was  only  four  years  old  then,  and  she  was 
ten  now,  but  she  had  never  forgotten  the 
starry  look  of  her  beautiful  mother. 

"  I  had  a  fever  that  night,  I  think,  Ma- 
trina,"  she  answered,  "  for  I  can  feel  yet 
the  coolness  of  her  soft  hands ;  and  often 
my  heart  stands  still  to  listen  to  the  coo 
ing  of  the  low  words  she  said  on  my  very 
lips.  And  there  was  a  little  song  she 
sang.  I  can  never  forget  the  melody.  I 
would  that  I  knew  the  words." 


io  MicJiael  and   Theodora. 

"  The  words,  my  dear  Princess,  were 
the  words  of  the  'Star  Song.'  It  was  the 
eve  of  the  Epiphany,  and,  as  you  know, 
all  Russia  was  singing  the  song  that 
night." 

"  We  never  sing  it  now,  Matrina." 

"  We  sing  not  at  all  now,  dear  Prin 
cess.  We  only  weep." 

"  Say  the  words  to  me,  Matrina.  Let 
me  hear  them  again." 

"  Listen,  then  :  — 

1 0  stars !  stars ! 
Dear  little  stars ! 
All  ye,  O  stars! 
Are  the  fair  children, 
Ruddy  and  white, 
Of  one  mother. 
Send  forth,  O  stars ! 
On  the  blessed  Epiphany, 
Send  forth  through  the  christened  world, 
Proposers  of  happiness.'" 

"  Was  that  indeed  the  Christmas  song 
my  mother  sang?  Alas,  Matrina,  there  is 
no  feast  of  Epiphany  or  Christmas  now 
for  us !  I  asked  Uncle  Sergius  once  about 


Michael  and   Theodora.  1 1 

it,  and  he  said  '  we  were  not  worthy  to 
keep  the  feast.' '' 

In  this  way  the  little  Princess  talked  to 
her  nurse  of  her  beloved  parents.  For  it 
was  a  comfort  to  speak  with  Matrina  of 
their  affection  and  their  beauty,  to  weep 
with  her  over  their  misfortunes,  and  then 
to  go  away  into  solitude  and  pray  with 
all  her  heart  for  The  Deliverer. 

Michael  was  two  years  older  than  his 
sister;  a  tall,  brave  boy,  with  a  bright, 
handsome  face,  and  a  true,  loving  soul. 
It  troubled  him  that  he  had  only  twelve 
years ;  for  his  hope  by  day  and  his  dream 
by  night  was  to  be  able  to  justify  his 
father  and  mother,  and  bring  them  back 
to  their  home  and  their  people,  in  honor 
and  triumph.  But  what  can  a  boy  of 
twelve  years  old  do,  — a  boy  under  con 
stant  surveillance  and  control,  not  per 
mitted  to  go  outside  the  boundaries  of 
the  estate  ?  Fortunately,  Michael  had  for 
his  tutor  a  very  wise  and  good  man,  one 


12  Michael  and  Theodora. 

who  had  loved  his  father,  and  who  be 
lieved  firmly  in  Prince  Ivan's  innocence. 

"  If  I  could  only  free  my  father  and 
mother.  If  I  could  convince  our  good 
father,  the  Czar,  how  true  and  loyal  they 
are,  I  could  lay  down  my  life !  Yes,  I 
could  lay  down  my  life  with  joy !  God 
knows  it." 

"  To  do  such  things,  Michael,"  an 
swered  the  tutor,  "  one  must  needs  be 
wise  in  mind  and  strong  in  body.  I  have 
planned  for  you  a  course  of  study.  It 
will  take  you  four  years." 

"  And  when  I  have  finished  my  course, 
what  then,  master?" 

"  Then  you  will  handle  a  sword,  and 
fight  the  battles  of  your  mother,  Russia." 

"  So ;  and  when  I  have  taken  a  strong 
fortress,  or  won  a  great  battle,  I  will  go 
to  the  Emperor  and  say,  '  Oh  great  and 
good  Czar !  how  is  it  possible  that  I  am 
the  son  of  a  traitor  ? '  I  will  plead  with 
strong  words  for  my  father  and  my 


Michael  and  Theodora.  13 

mother.  I  shall  not  be  afraid.  But,  alas, 
the  years  go  slow;  my  father  and  my 
mother  they  suffer,  they  may  die.  It  is 
too  long  to  wait  and  do  nothing ;  and  the 
Czar  is  so  far  away." 

"But,  Michael,  a  little  prayer  goes 
farther  away,  even  to  the  heaven  of 
heavens.  Have  you  forgotten  your  good 
brother,  Jesus  ?  How  often  he  pities  and 
does  for  us  that  thing  which  is  to  us 
impossible." 

Yes,  Michael  admitted  this  hope  and 
this  consolation,  and  he  lifted  his  trusting 
eyes  as  if  to  invoke  help.  Also,  he  put 
back  his  shoulders  and  stretched  out  his 
supple  young  arms,  and  longed  with  an 
almost  impossible  loyalty  to  bring  back 
his  banished  by  some  labor  of  his  own 
body  or  some  sacrifice  of  his  own  de 
sires. 

One  afternoon  in  November  the  boy  and 
his  tutor  were  talking  of  these  things  in 
a  low  voice.  It  had  been  a  day  of  fear 


14  MicJiael  and  Theodora. 

and  sadness.  Prince  Sergius  had  been 
quarrelling  all  throughout  it  with  a 
stranger  —  a  bad,  common-looking  man 
dressed  in  a  sheepskin  coat.  Mr.  Cecil, 
the  tutor  of  Michael,  and  Matrina,  the 
nurse  of  Theodora,  had  kept  their  charges 
close  and  quiet.  It  was  a  great  thing  to 
be  forgotten  by  Prince  Sergius  when  he 
was  raging  in  his  passions.  As  for  the 
stranger,  he  did  not  appear  to  be  frightened 
by  the  Prince's  temper.  They  could  hear 
his  loud,  rough  voice  contradicting  and 
asserting,  and  sometimes  also  a  riotous 
laugh  full  of  scorn  and  defiance.  Matrina 
was  on  the  alert  and  very  thoughtful. 

"  The  man  is  not  quite  a  stranger,"  she 
said  in  the  afternoon.  "  I  have  seen  him 
here  before.  Yes,  I  have ;  and  the  scribe 
Smoloff  has  told  me  that  he  bayed  back  at 
Prince  Sergius'  ten  words  for  one.  Who 
can  a  man  be  that  would  dare  to  do  that  ? 
I  have  seen  the  dogs  set  on  a  visitor  for 
far  less." 


MicJiael  and  Theodora-  15 

A  little  later  she  went  down  to  the 
great  kitchens,  and  when  she  returned  she 
said  to  Mr.  Cecil  and  the  children,— 

"  Smoloff  says  the  man  is  a  wonder. 
Smoloff  saw  him  walking  up  and  down 
the  room,  talking  like  one  who  will  have 
his  say.  Yes,  indeed,  and  so  at  his  ease 
about  it,  that  he  stopped  as  he  wanted  to, 
and  took  nuts  from  the  table  and  cracked 
them  between  his  big  finger  and  thumb  as 
if  they  were  no  more  than  egg-shells. 
And  when  he  did  so  the  Prince's  eyes 
were  like  flames,  and  he  looked  at  him 
from  under  his  eyelids  as  if  he  were 
a  dog  ready  to  tear  open  the  fellow's 
throat." 

"  Was  it  Russian  they  spoke  ?  "  asked 
Mr.  Cecil. 

"  Not  so ;  it  was  French,  and  Smoloff 
knows  not  a  word  of  French ;  only  he 
heard  the  Prince  Ivan's  name  more  than 
once ;  yes,  he  could  say  he  heard  it  very 
often.  That  may  mean  something,  then, 


1 6  Michael  and  Theodora. 

again,  it  may  mean  nothing ;  only  the 
good  God  knows  " 

Every  one  was  weary  with  the  fear 
and  turmoil  of  the  visit.  All  day  long 
there  had  been  the  trampling  of  horses 
and  baying  of  dogs,  threats,  orders,  and 
hurrying  of  terrified  women  and  men, 
until  the  palace  felt  as  if  a  great  storm 
had  passed  through  it.  But  towards  the 
close  of  the  afternoon,  Prince  Sergius  and 
the  stranger  went  out  of  the  house  to 
gether.  The  stranger  was  then  smiling, 
and  he  made  as  if  he  would  speak  fairly 
and  affably,  but  the  angry  Prince  looked 
neither  to  the  right  nor  the  left,  nor  yet 
at  his  visitor ;  neither  did  he  answer  him 
one  word.  On  the  contrary,  his  face  was 
black  as  a  thunder-cloud,  and  the  very 
dogs  but  looked  at  him,  and  then  sneaked 
out  of  his  path  and  his  sight. 

From  the  schoolroom  it  was  easy  to 
watch  the  two  men  until  they  passed  into 
a  thick  belt  of  pine-trees  and  were  lost 


Michael  and  Theodora.  17 

in  the  shadow  they  made.  Then  Mr. 
Cecil  said,  "  Come,  Michael,  let  us  go 
into  the  fresh  air ;  it  will  calm  and 
strengthen  us,  and  there  is  yet  half  an 
hour  before  the  darkness." 

Matrina  also  rose  at  his  words  and 
brought  Theodora  her  pelisse  of  fine  fox 
fur,  and  her  cap  and  muff,  and  they  went 
out  together  to  the  esplanade  in  front  of 
the  house.  The  snow  was  deep,  but  a 
path  had  been  cleared  for  walking,  and 
with  rapid  steps  they  followed  it.  The 
odora  and  Matrina  were  in  front ; 
Michael  and  his  tutor  walked  behind 
them. 

The  prospect  was  inexpressibly  dreary. 
Except  for  the  pine  belt,  it  was  one  great 
level  of  snow,  silent,  mournful,  monoto 
nous.  A  few  black  huts  were  scattered 
here  and  there,  but  they  looked  like  dead 
homes,  for  there  was  no  sight  or  sound  of 
human  life  near  them.  The  children 
talked  of  whatever  concerned  them  most 


1.8  Michael  and  Theodora. 

at  the  moment :  Theodora  of  the  bag  she 
was  making,  Michael  of  his  studies,  and, 
in  a  low  voice,  of  his  uncle's  anger. 

Suddenly  there  was  a  little  swirling 
wind.  It  blew  a  bit  of  white  paper  off 
the  white  snow  straight  to  Michael's  feet. 
He  stooped  and  lifted  it,  and  as  his  tutor 
talked  to  him,  he  glanced  at  the  words 
written  there.  They  were  written  in 
French,  but  he  knew  enough  of  French 
to  perceive  in  a  moment  the  importance 
of  the  paper  which  the  wind  of  God  had 
blown  to  him. 

He  became  pale  and  breathless.  With 
out  a  word  he  gave  the  paper  to  his 
teacher.  The  emotion  of  both  was  in 
tense.  They  went  silently  and  rapidly 
back  to  the  schoolroom,  and  then  Mr. 
Cecil,  as  he  looked  steadily  into  Michael's 
face,  cut  in  the  collar  of  his  own  coat  a 
little  slit,  and  hid  the  paper  within  it. 
This  act  was  scarcely  accomplished  when 
Theodora  and  Matrina  entered. 


MicJiacl  and  TJieodora.  19 

"  It  is  so  very  cold ! "  said  Matrina. 
"  Besides  which,  we  heard  the  Prince 
talking  in  the  wood.  And  then,  we  per 
ceived  you  also  had  felt  the  cold.  After 
all,  the  stove  and  the  stone  roof  are  better 
than  the  wide  world  when  it  is  winter 
weather."  She  was  talking  thus  as  she 
removed  Theodora's  pelisse  and  cap  and 
gave  her  the  bag  she  was  making. 

Michael  stood  trembling  by  the  window. 
Mr.  Cecil  perceived  his  emotion  and  feared 
it.  He  said  with  an  assumed  indifference, 
"  Quick,  Michael !  Let  us  finish  the 
problem  we  left  unsolved." 

"  It  is  so  long  until  I  am  a  man,"  re 
plied  Michael ;  for  he  was  answering  his 
own  thought,  and  not  his  teacher's  sugges 
tion. 

"But,  in  the  mean  time,  Michael,  the 
problem  is  the  best  and  wisest  thing.  A 
slate  and  pencil  might  even  be  a  bulwark." 

Michael  understood.  He  took  his  slate 
and  sat  down  at  a  desk  by  the  side  of 


2O  Michael  and  Theodora. 

Mr.  Cecil.  They  were  both  apparently 
deeply  interested  in  some  arithmetical 
question,  when  Prince  Sergius  suddenly 
opened  the  door.  Usually,  his  approach 
could  be  heard  afar  off;  and  this  sudden 
and  quiet  visit  was  not  an  accident.  He 
had,  indeed,  discovered  the  loss  of  the 
paper  found  by  Michael,  and  he  wished 
to  see  whether  those  he  feared  most  had 
become  its  possessor. 

He  strode  into  the  room  and  looked 
with  keen,  fierce  eyes  around  him.  Theo 
dora  was  plaiting  ribbons  for  her  bag. 
Matrina  sat  at  her  side,  sewing.  Over 
the  slate  and  book  Michael  and  his  tutor 
were  bending.  All  rose  to  their  feet  and 
stood  waiting  his  orders ;  all,  with  bowed 
heads  and  lowered  eyes,  except  the  tutor, 
who  gazed  out  of  the  window  with  a 
melancholy  and  indifferent  air.  Sergius 
looked  most  keenly  at  the  women.  He 
was  sure  if  anything  had  been  discovered 
their  faces  would  betray  it. 


Michael  and  Theodora.  2 1 

But  Theodora  and  Matrina  knew  noth 
ing  to  betray,  for  Michael  walked  behind 
them,  and  they  had  neither  noticed  the 
blowing  paper  nor  yet  seen  Michael  stoop 
and  pick  it  up.  Their  faces  were  abso 
lutely  innocent  of  any  unusual  emotion, 
and  Prince  Sergius  perceived  readily  that 
they  were  totally  unaware  of  his  loss. 
Though  always  brutal  to  the  native,  the 
Russian  noble  compels  himself  to  give  an 
ostentatious  politeness  to  any  foreigner  in 
his  service ;  therefore,  Prince  Sergius 
bowed  to  the  tutor  as  he  said,  — 

"  Mr.  Cecil,  do  me  the  favor  to  take 
again  your  chair.  I  am  sure  your  pupil 
is  idle  and  impertinent.  Do  not  spare 
the  lash.  A  taste  of  the  whip  will  be 
good  for  him.  Father  and  son  both  need 
it.  The  Emperor  was  of  my  opinion  also. 
Pray  let  me  know  if  he  gives  you  any 
trouble.  I  shall  be  well  pleased  to  under 
take  his  punishment  myself."  And  he 
looked  at  Michael  with  a  steady  savage- 


22  Michael  and  Tlicodora. 

ness,  drawing  together  his  light,  lowering 
eyebrows  as  he  did  so.  Michael  did  not 
speak,  did  not  lift  his  eyelids,  but  Prince 
Sergius  saw  with  delight  that  the  child's 
cheeks  burned,  and  that  his  small  hands 
were  passionately  clinched.  He  smiled 
scornfully  at  the  futile  anger,  and  then 
turned  to  Matrina. 

"  Hark  thee,  Matrina !  Come  here  ! 
Listen !  Pack  the  girl's  clothing.  To 
morrow  the  Countess  Vasil  comes  for  her. 
The  saints  know  I  am  well  rid  of  such  a 
trouble.  Dost  understand  ?  " 

"  I  understand,  Prince  ;  and  I  obey." 

"Be  off  then." 

With  the  words  he  turned  on  his  heel, 
bowed  to  Mr.  Cecil,  and  left  the  room. 
For  some  minutes  afterwards  there  was  a 
deep  silence.  No  one  spoke,  no  one 
moved,  they  all  felt  as  if  it  was  full  of 
danger  to  glance  at  each  other.  But  as 
Prince  Sergius  did  not  return,  they  grad 
ually  ventured  to  resume  their  seats  and 


Michael  and  Theodora.  23 

to  look  around ;  for  each  heart  was  full 
of  new  and  overwhelming  feeling.  In  a 
day  or  two  what  changes  might  begin ! 
Theodora  was  going  to  a  strange  life,  a 
life  full  of  splendor  and  action ;  perhaps 
also  full  of  love.  The  Countess  Vasil 
was  her  mother's  only  sister ;  surely  she 
must  love  a  child  so  desolate  and  so 
bereaved ! 

But  Theodora  trembled  and  feared. 
She  did  not  remember  her  aunt.  She 
was  going  among  strangers.  She  was 
going  to  leave  Michael.  Prince  Sergius 
had  not  even  said  that  Matrina  was  to 
accompany  her.  She  could  not  imagine 
life  without  Matrina.  Her  mother  had 
gone  away  one  day  from  Bazaroff  to  St. 
Petersburg,  and  she  had  never  come  back 
again.  The  poor  girl  dreaded  the  un 
known  evils  of  the  great  world ;  for 
though  Bazaroff  was  full  of  terror,  there, 
at  least,  she  had  Michael  and  Matrina. 

Before   her  altar  that  night    Theodora 


24  Michael  and  Theodora. 

knelt  a  long  time.  When  she  rose  her 
face  was  shining  and  happy.  "  Her  angel 
has  spoken  to  her,"  thought  Matrina ; 
and  Matrina  was  not  wrong.  To  an 
innocent  girl  the  angels  whisper  many 
sweet  things ;  they  delight  to  guard  her 
from  all  evil ;  to  bear  her  pure  prayers  to 
heaven ;  to  keep  her  ever  unspotted  from 
the  world. 

In  the  mean  time  Michael  and  his  tutor 
sat  silently  over  the  large  porcelain  stove. 
Their  thoughts  were  too  great,  too  full  of 
fear  and  sorrow  for  much  speech  ;  beside, 
much  speech  might  be  dangerous.  But 
in  short,  whispered  sentences,  with  long 
pauses  between  them,  they  came  at  last  to 
a  decision. 

"  Theodora  must  be  told,"  said  Mi-. 
Cecil.  "The  letter  must  be  trusted  to 
her.  *It  is  the  best  we  can  do,  Michael, 
and  also  there  will  be  no  time  lost." 

"  That  is  everything,  teacher.  I  wish 
that  I  had  wings,  I  would  fly  to  St. 


Micliael  and  TJicodora.  25 

Petersburg,  to  the  good  Czar.  He 
should  know  all  in  one  hour." 

"  Theodora  will  find  the  light  time. 
She  is  brave  as  well  as  prudent.  Her 
aunt  will  be  of  the  greatest  advantage, 
for  Countess  Vasil  has  a  great  deal  of 
influence,  and  she  adores  her  sister.  I  am 
sure  she  will  not  lose  a  moment." 

"  If  I  could  go  myself !  Cannot  I  go  ? 
The  letter  came  to  me.  Dear  master,  can 
I  not  go  ?  " 

"  My  boy,  you  are  a  prisoner  on  this 
estate.  If  you  cross  its  boundaries,  your 
uncle,  your  own  serfs,  would  have  the 
right  to  shoot  you." 

"  How,  then,  can  Theodora  leave  Baza- 
roff?" 

"  I  have  no  doubt  her  aunt  had  to 
procure  the  Czar's  permission  for  her  to 
do  so." 

"  It  is  terrible  !  What  can  the  Emperor 
fear  from  me?  I  love  our  good  father. 
I  would  fight  for  him.  I  would  die  for 


26  MicJiael  and  TJieodora. 

him  and  for  Russia.  To  be  treated  like 
a  traitor  to  my  own  country  and  my 
Emperor,  it  is  very  hard  !  " 

"  But  when  the  day  breaks  the  shadows 
flee  away.  Michael,  I  see  the  dawn.  I 
believe  your  father  and  mother  will  come 
back  to  their  home  and  their  children  and 
their  people.  They  will  come  back  and 
find  their  honor  unstained,  and  themselves 
beloved  and  unforgotten.  There  is  an 
hour  of  great  joy  at  hand.  Let  us  say  no 
more  to-night.  Try  and  sleep.  You  must 
learn  to  be  calm.  If  you  lose  control  of 
yourself,  your  heart  will  tell  your  secret. 
Prince  Sergius  will  read  it  in  your  face, 
see  it  in  your  carriage,  feel  it  in  a  hundred 
impalpable  impressions." 

But  the  boy  sat  musing  and  planning, 
his  face  growing  finer  and  finer,  as 

"  He  built  with  neither  hammer  nor  stone 
A  grand  fair  castle  of  his  own." 


II. 

"  Manifold  are  the  changes 
Which  Providence  may  bring ; 
Many  unhoped-for  things 
God's  power  hath  brought  about." 

Euripides. 

r  I  "'HE  next  day  Theodora  was  sitting  in 
the  schoolroom  with  Matrina,  when 
the  Countess  Vasil's  sleigh,  with  its  chim 
ing  bells,  its  gay  postilions,  and  liveried 
horsemen  in  attendance,  drove  with  a  great 
clatter  into  Bazaroff  courtyard.  Theo 
dora  let  her  work  fall  and  flew  to  the 
window  overlooking  the  courtyard.  She 
was  but  a  girl  of  ten  years,  and  she  could 
not  control  the  curiosity  and  the.  tender 
yearning  for  affection  which  made  the 
advent  of  this  dear  sister  of  her  mother's 
a  very  possible  deliverance  for  her.  Ma 
trina  pitied  her  too  much  to  interfere, 


28  Michael  and  Theodora. 

and  Mr.  Cecil  and  Michael  looked  with 
questioning,  interested  faces  at  the  watch 
ing  girl. 

"  I  see  her !  I  see  our  aunt,  dear 
Michael !"  she  cried.  "She  is  beautiful, 
splendid  !  more  than  all,  I  am  sure  she  is 
like  our  dear  mother!  Prince  Sergius 
advances  to  meet  her.  She  kisses  his 
cheek.  They  have  spread  the  velvet 
carpets  on  the  courtyard  for  her  to  tread 
upon.  She  is  coming  into  the  house!  I 
am  sure  she  is  speaking  of  us ;  I  saw 
her  lift  her  face  to  these  windows !  Oh, 
how  gracious  she  is !  I  wonder  if  to-day 
we  shall  see  and  speak  to  her ! " 

Mr.  Cecil  said,  "  It  was  unlikely.  So 
great  a  lady  would  require  all  kinds  of  at 
tentions  before  she  would  recover  from  the 
fatigue  of  her  long  journey."  He  advised 
the  children  to  pursue  their  usual  duties, 
and  not  to  expect  too  much  from  a 
relative  who  had  not  seen  them  since 
they  were  but  babies.  He  himself  was 


Michael  and  Theodora.  29 

strangely  melancholy  and  quiet,  and  his 
mood  so  far  influenced  the  children  as  to 
make  them  apparently  resume  their  ordi 
nary  occupations. 

A  great  sadness  and  silence  fell  on  all. 
The  room  was  as  quiet  as  if  its  occupants 
were  asleep.  For  a  little  while  Theodora 
strained  her  hearing  to  listen  for  her 
aunt's  footsteps.  Surely  she  would  come 
and  speak  to  them.  But  it  seemed  as  if 
the  huge  palace  had  never  before  been  so 
quiet.  She  grew  hysterical  in  the  still 
ness  ;  she  felt  that  noise  of  any  kind 
would  be  a  relief. 

"  Why  is  everything  so  quiet  ?  Why 
does  no  one  come  here?  Neither  Muzza, 
nor  Karma,  nor  Peteroff.  Why  does  no 
no  one  come,  Matrina?"  she  asked  in  a 
nervous,  irritable  voice. 

"It  may  be  the  Countess  wishes  to 
sleep,  or  perhaps  the  servants  are  in  the 
great  kitchen  being  courteous  to  the 
servants  of  the  Countess.  It  is  not 


30  Michael  and  Theodora. 

often  they  see  any  company  from  the 
world  outside,  dear  Princess.  Yes,  that 
is  undoubtedly  the  case ;  they  are  all 
busy  talking  and  eating  in  the  kitchen." 

"Ah,  Matrina!  if  I  had  been  only  a 
little  serf,  I  could  have  run  to  meet  my 
aunt.  I  could  have  said,  '  Dear  aunt,  you 
are  beautiful !  you  are  the  likeness  of  my 
beloved  mother !  I  love  you  ! '  But,  alas  ! 
I  am  a  miserable  princess  !  I  must  wait, 
and  be  still,  and  go  nowhere  I  want  to 
go,  and  say  nothing  I  want  to  say.  I 
wish,  then,  I  was  a  happy  little  serf." 

"•  Mademoiselle  the  Princess  must  be 
content  with  the  place  in  which  God  has 
put  her,"  said  Mr.  Cecil.  He  spoke  with 
an  air  of  authority,  and  Theodora  lifted 
her  work  and  began  to  embroider,  while 
the  tears  dropped  down  upon  the  stitches. 
Michael  had  his  book  open  and  his  eyes 
upon  it ;  whether  he  read  the  words  or 
not,  Mr.  Cecil  did  not  inquire.  He  was 
glad  to  see  that  the  boy  had  sufficient 


Michael  and  Theodora.  31 

control  over  himself  to  affect  the  calm 
ness  and  patience  it  was  very  unlikely  he 
felt. 

Mr.  Cecil  was  writing  a  letter ;  Matrina 
stood  by  the  window  overlooking  the 
great  plain.  She  was  longing  to  go  to 
Moscow  with  her  dear  Princess,  and  her 
anxiety  did  not  permit  her  to  work.  For 
half  an  hour  these  four  all  suffered.  Each 
minute  appeared  to  be  twenty  minutes ; 
they  could  not  believe  they  were  going  so 
swiftly  away,  and  no  one  was  cominy. 
The  painful  tension  soon  exhausted  itself. 
A  sombre  silence  fell  on  each  ;  they  could 
no  longer  wonder,  or  hope,  or  make  ex 
cuses  ;  they  were  smitten  with  an  intense 
apathy.  At  that  moment  the  two  chil 
dren  were  sick  with  despair ;  for  children 
do  not  reason  much.  Alas,  alas!  they 
can  only  feel ;  and  they  feel  so  bitterly ! 
They  were  sure  they  were  forgotten  by 
their  aunt.  Unkissed,  unloved,  unspoken 
to,  both  of  them  felt  broken-hearted. 


32  Michael  and  Theodora. 

Michael  was  proud  and  angry,  and  his 
cheeks  burned.  Theodora  wept  as  she 
mechanically  put  her  needle  through  and 
through  her  wearisome  embroidery. 

Then,  without  a  sound,  the  door 
opened,  and  the  Countess  Vasil,  with  a 
face  glowing  with  love  and  joy,  entered. 
She  looked  at  Michael  with  a  smile ;  she 
stretched  out  her  arms  to  Theodora ;  in  a 
moment  both  children  were  folded  within 
them ;  she  was  kissing  the  tears  off  their 
cheeks,  and  whispering  all  the  sweet 
words  she  could  remember  upon  their 
lips  :  "  My  beloved  Michael !  My  dar 
ling  Theo  !  My  Nadia's  children  !  My 
own  little  ones !  Did  you  think  I  had 
forgotten  you?  Ah,  my  dear  ones,  I  have 
had  my  difficulties ;  and  not  the  least 
with  Prince  Sergius.  He  would  see  all 
my  papers  ere  I  might  see  you,  and  he 
was  so  long,  so  long,  I  thought  he  was 
reading  them  one  word  in  one  minute. 
Mr.  Cecil,  I  have  the  honor  and  pleasure 


Michael  and  Theodora.  33 

to  see  again  Prince  Ivan's  friend.  Give 
me  your  hand,  sir,  faithful  one  that  you 
have  been !  " 

Thus  she  was  talking  to  all  at  once,  not 
even  slighting  Matrina,  whom  she  kissed 
on  her  cheeks.  Joy  had  come  into  the 
sorrowful  place ;  it  was  possible  now  to 
breathe  in  the  room  without  desiring  to 
weep. 

But  it  was  evident  her  visit  had  been 
made  without  the  knowledge  of  Prince 
Sergius.  She  said  a  few  words  privately 
to  Mr.  Cecil,  and  intimated  the  desirability 
of  caution  by  quoting  with  a  peculiar 
emphasis  the  proverb,  " '  When  the  big 
bear  is  sleeping,  the  little  bears  must  play 
without  making  a  noise.'  And  I  shall 
run  off  now,  and  when  I  come  again  we 
will  not  remember  that  I  have  been  before. 
That  will  be  most  prudent,  children." 
And  the  children  understood  from  her 
words  that  she  had  visited  them  secretly. 

Mr.  Cecil  opened  the  door  and  passed 


34  Michael  and   Theodora. 

outside  with  her  a  moment.  "  Countess," 
he  said,  "you  will  hear  great  news  soon. 
I  pray  you  take  God  in  council  and  move 
quickly." 

"  I  know  not  what  you  mean,  Mr. 
Cecil." 

"  The  child  will  tell  you  when  you  are 
beyond  Bazaroff.  It  is  too  great  a  matter 
to  talk  about  here." 

"  Alas  !  what  can  a  child  do  ?  " 

"  Alone,  a  child  can  do  little ;  with 
God,  a  child  may  do  everything.  Coun 
tess,  is  not  a  farthing  candle  enough  to 
set  St.  Petersburg  in  a  blaze  ? " 

"Indeed  that  is  true,  but  not  likely, 
sir.  However,  it  is  always  the  unlikely 
thing  which  happens,  and  whatever  is  to 
be  done,  you  may  say  to  yourself,  '  Coun 
tess  Vasil  will  do  it  with  all  her  heart 
and  friends,  and  with  all  her  wealth.' " 

With  this  assurance  they  parted,  and 
Mr.  Cecil  had  no  other  opportunity  for 
conversation  with  the  Countess.  She  paid 


Michael  and  TJicodora.  35 

only  one  more  visit  to  the  schoolroom,  and 
that  was  in  the  company  of  Prince  Sergius. 
At  this  time  she  was  a  different  woman. 
She  kissed  the  children  with  a  formal 
affection,  and  then  began  to  complain  ol 
the  manner  in  which  Theodora  was  dressed 
and  of  her  want  of  polite  behavior.  Prince 
Sergius  made  some  apologies,  but  she  in 
terrupted  him  with  the  assertion,  "  How 
ever,  Prince,  it  is  now  time  to  improve. 
The  Princess  Theodora  must  at  least  have 
the  education  of  her  rank.  She  is  truly 
a  Bazaroff." 

"  To  be  sure,  you  are  exactly  right, 
Countess,"  Prince  Sergius  replied,  sulkily. 
"  And  I  am  most  thankful  to  the  saints 
and  to  you  if  you  rid  me  of  a  charge  I 
have  little  liking  and  less  skill  for. 
Listen,  Matrina !  To-morrow  the  Princess 
will  leave  for  Moscow.  See  thou  that  all 
is  ready  for  the  journey." 

"  And  I,  noble  master  ?  " 

"  Thou  also  wilt  go  to  Moscow.  Dost 
understand  ?  " 


36  Michael  and  Theodora. 

Matrina  bowed  to  the  Prince's  feet,  nor 
was  she  quite  able  to  hide  her  sense  of 
joy  and  triumph  in  the  approaching 
change.  She  loved  Theodora,  and  she 
rejoiced  because  she  was  not  to  be  parted 
from  her,  and  she  hated  the  monotony  of 
life,  its  loneliness  and  gloom  in  the  sad 
palace  of  Bazaroff.  She  immediately  be 
gan  to  pack  and  to  prepare ;  also  to  feel  a 
trifle  sentimental  about  Michael  and  her 
old  companions. 

As  for  Theodora,  she  spent  every  mo 
ment  with  her  brother  talking  of  the  past, 
planning  for  the  future,  and  she  was  not 
a  little  mystified  at  Michael's  confident 
prophecies  of  a  speedy  end  to  all  their 
misfortunes ;  for  it  was  not  until  the 
very  last  hour  Mr.  Cecil  trusted  her  with 
the  letter,  and  even  then  he  chose  rather 
to  give  her  strict  directions,  than  to 
explain  these  directions  to  her. 

With  an  air  of  the  greatest  solemnity 
he  took  her  apart,  and  in  her  sight  hid  the 


Michael  and   Tlieodora.  37 

fateful  piece  of  paper  within  the  lining 
of  the  fur  collar  she  Avore  round  her 
throat.  He  told  her  that  she  must  neither 
by  word,  nor  look,  nor  deed  suffer  its  pres 
ence  to  be  known  until  she  was  at  home 
in  her  aunt's  house.  He  assured  her  that 
her  father's  and  her  mother's  every  hope 
was  now  in  her  keeping,  —  their  life,  honor, 
and  liberty  were  in  it ;  that  if  she  lost  it, 
all  was  lost ;  and  that  if  she  was  prudent 
she  would  be  the  savior  of  her  family. 
And  there  was  no  time  left  for  her  to 
inquire,  or  to  demur,  or  to  ask  questions. 
Her  cheeks  were  flaming,  her  heart  bound 
ing  ;  she  felt  weight  of  life  and  death  upon 
her  looks  and  words  and  actions ;  but  she 
could  not  doubt  the  solemn  charge  Mr. 
Cecil  had  given  her,  and  she  did  not  dare 
to  violate  a  tittle  of  it,  lest  by  doing  so 
she  should  injure  those  most  dear  to  her. 

The  journey  was  not  a  very  pleasant 
one.  The  Countess  disliked  to  be  wea 
ried  or  incommoded.  She  thought  it  was 


38  Michael  and  Theodora. 

a  capital  crime  to  make  her  wait  a 
moment  for  any  personal  desire  she  had. 
And  the  taverns  on  the  road  were  all 
poor;  nothing  but  large,  wooden  hilts, 
with  a  crooked,  shaking  staircase,  and 
one  big  room,  in  which  there  was  per 
petually  a  boiling  tea-urn.  The  towns 
also  were  all  alike  in  their  dreariness; 
each  one  had  a  high  street,  and  one 
big  store,  and  one  apothecary's  store, 
and  a  court  of  justice,  and  an  assembly 
room ;  and  there  was  sure  to  be  a 
square,  and  a  bazaar,  and  two  or  three 
street  lamps,  and  several  sentry  boxes 
for  the  watchmen. 

Besides  which  all  towns,  big  and  little, 
had  a  governor  and  a  governor's  lady; 
and  an  innumerable  number  of  function 
aries,  all  very  important  and  very 
haughty,  until  they  were  informed  that 
it  was  the  cortege  of  the  most  noble 
Countess  Vasil,  and  then  all  were  ex 
ceedingly  servile.  Theodora  was  at  first 


Michael  and  Theodora.  39 

interested  by  the  ceremonies  and  formali 
ties  demanded  by  all  this  official  state. 
She  thought  it  a  very  fine  thing  to  see 
such  great  men  bend  down  and  kiss  her 
hands,  and  humbly  wish  "prosperity  to 
her  very  chariot  wheels."  But  the  fre 
quent  repetition  of  such  homage  wearied 
her;  and  she  could  not  escape  from  the 
tedium  of  many  long  hours,  when  the 
Countess  slept,  or  seemed  to  sleep. 

Then  her  thoughts  flew  back  to  Baz- 
aroff,  to  the  dear  brother  in  the  great 
dreary  schoolroom;  to  Mr.  Cecil's  kind, 
melancholy  face ;  to  the  mysterious  paper 
clasped  around  her  little  throat.  Very 
often  she  secretly  put  her  hand  within 
her  collar  to  feel  the  slight  difference 
it  made  in  the  satin  lining,  and  to  be 
sure  it  was  certainly  and  safely  there. 
After  sleeping,  the  paper  was  always  her 
first  thought.  She  was  in  a  terror  until 
she  had  assured  herself  of  its  presence. 
Indeed  there  was  only  one  thing  which 


4O  Michael  and  Theodora. 

greatly  pleased  her  during  this  long, 
monotonous  ride:  it  was  the  constant 
sound  of  bells;  for  Russia  is  the  land  of 
bells,  —  holy  bells,  that  are  the  joy  of 
far-off,  lonely  parishes. 

In  the  afternoon  of  the  third  day  they 
began  to  approach  the  wondrous  old  city  . 
of  Moscow,  the  prototype  of  all  Russian 
cities.  The  sleigh  of  the  Countess  dashed 
rapidly  through  the  uneven  streets,  lined 
with  sharp  flint  stones ;  and  Theodora 
was  struck  dumb  with  amazement  at  their 
endless  variety,  their  grotesque  profusion 
of  gold  and  barbaric  ornaments,  and  the 
startling  blending  of  every  conceivable 
color  in  them,  —  vivid,  pale,  salient,  glar 
ing,  as  if  they  had  been  mixed  on  the 
palette  of  a  mad  painter. 

The  human  element  that  pressed  close 
up  to  their  horses  was  equally  vivid  and 
strange.  She  saw  within  a  short  distance 
monks  wearing  long,  black,  flowing  robes 
and  tall  circular  caps  and  veils;  soldiers 


MicJiacL  and  Theodora.  41 

in  gay  uniforms ;  dark  faces  of  Gypsies,  Tar 
tars,  Persians,  swarthy  Jews,  and  blonde 
handsome  Russians.  She  saw  clerks  sit 
ting  within  the  doors  of  the  stores  playing 
dominoes,  and  fondling  their  pet  cats ; 
nurses  in  white  aprons,  long  ear-rings, 
heavy  necklaces,  and  high  turban-like 
caps;  merchants,  brokers,  idlers,  and 
everywhere  —  for  this  human  element  — 
churches,  churches,  churches;  icons  on 
every  wall  and  above  every  door;  glitter 
ing  crosses  or  huge  black  spread  eagles 
at  every  angle  and  on  every  pinnacle. 
It  was  all  so  bewildering,  so  amazing! 
Theodora  was  speechless.  Her  heart 
swelled  with  native  pride.  It  was  singing 
without  words,  "  Thanks  be  to  God  that 
I  am  a  Russian  girl!" 

Count  Vasil's  house  was  in  the  heart 
of  Moscow.  It  was  a  vast  old  Russian 
palace,  with  an  Oriental  look  outside,  but 
furnished  internally  after  the  most  splen 
did  French  fashion.  Jasper  and  porphyry 


42  Michael  and  Theodora. 

adorned  the  walls  ;  columns  and  pilasters 
of  solid  malachite  supported  the  sculp 
tured  ceiling ;  and  every  year,  cabinet 
makers  and  decorators  arrived  from  Paris, 
and  brought  with  them  all  that  was  neces 
sary  to  refit  with  additional  magnificence 
its  vast  and  lofty  rooms.  Theodora,  hold 
ing  her  aunt's  hand,  passed  through  nu 
merous  apartments.  They  had  all  fretted 
roofs,  tessellated  pavements,  and  walls 
hung  with  cloths  of  gold.  They  were 
adorned  with  every  variety  of  ornament, 
and  with  furniture  in  or  moidu  and 
mother-of-pearl  ;  and  they  opened  one 
into  the  other. 

* 

It  was  like  a  dream  of  the  night  to  the 
little  girl.  She  pressed  her  aunt's  hand 
tighter,  and  looked  into  her  face  with 
eyes  heavy  with  tears  of  hope  and  delight. 
When  they  came  to  the  suite  prepared  for 
Theodora,  Countess  Vasil  committed  the 
child  to  the  care  of  two  maids  ;  and  with 
many  loving  words  and  kisses  left  her  to 


Michael  and  Theodora.  43 

take  rest  and  refreshment.  This  suite 
was  furnished  in  ivory  and  gold,  and  pale 
blue  damask  woven  with  silver.  The 
rooms  were  full  of  all  that  could  delight 
a  young  girl :  musical  instruments,  books, 
the  most  delicate  toilet  necessities,  great 
quantities  of  flowering  plants,  singing 
birds,  and  a  handsome  tortoise-shell  cat, 
which  lay  upon  a  satin  cushion,  and  looked 
at  his  new  mistress  through  slits  of  eyes 
full  of  an  inquisitive  and  rather  uncertain 
air.  Evidently  he  wished  to  inquire  if 
the  Princess  Theodora  was  satisfied  with 
his  appearance,  and  if  it  was  decreed 
by  her  that  they  should  be  friends. 
Theodora  answered  the  question  by  stoop 
ing  down  and  fondling  the  lignified  crea 
ture  ;  and  he  graciously  purred  his  accept 
ance  of  her  overtures  of  affection. 

Then  she  was  taken  to  a  luxurious 
bath,  clothed  in  a  rich  and  ample  dressing- 
gown,  and  served  with  such  a  delicate 
dinner  as  delighted  the  hungry  girl.  She 


44  Micliael  and   TJicodora. 

was  very  tired,  but  that  night  she  found 
it  impossible  to  sleep.  Her  child-heart 
was  so  full  of  strange  emotions,  —  wonder 
and  gladness  at  her  own  changed  lot, 
pity  for  her  darling  brother's  lonely  life, 
hopes  and  fears  concerning  her  father  and 
mother's  sad  fate. 

Also,  one  of  the  maids  had  taken  away 
her  fur  pelisse,  and  she  feared  to  show 
her  anxiety  about  the  priceless  paper 
hidden  in  its  fur  collar.  She  could  only 
watch  and  listen  until  she  found  an 
opportunity  to  steal  softly  from  her  bed, 
search  for  her  pelisse,  and  take  the  paper 
from  its  hiding  place.  But  the  charge  of 
it  kept  her  restless.  It  was  dawn  when 
she  fell  into  a  deep  slumber,  and  she  was 
wan  and  heavy  with  sleep  when  Matrina 
brought  her  a  message  from  the  Countess. 

Matrina  had  put  on  a  new  attitude ;  she 
understood  that  the  little  child  was  to  be 
henceforth  an  object  for  honor  as  well  as 
affection ;  and  she  resolutely  ignored  the 


MicJiael  and   Theodora.  45 

tender  familiarity  which  had  been  so 
necessary  and  comforting  in  the  mean  and 
sorrowful  life  at  Bazaroff. 

"  The  Countess  Vasil  desires  the  com 
pany  of  my  Princess  to  breakfast,"  she 
said  with  vast  respect ;  adding  with  her 
old  smile,  "  and  to  be  sure  it  is  a  lovely 
morning,  and  this  house  is  like  heaven,  I 
think.  So  much  company,  and  the  very 
servants  fed  like  nobles !  Ah,  indeed,  it 
is  now  we  begin  to  live,  dear  Princess! 
though  as  for  that,  all  that  befalls  us  was 
written  in  a  book  a  thousand  years  ago." 

"  Then  I  hope  it  was  my  good  angel 
wrote  down  my  fate,  for,  Matrina,  this 
morning  I  feel  as  if  something  was  going 
to  happen." 

"God  order  the  hours  and  the  burden 
they  carry,  and  may  each  one  bring 
good  luck  with  it.  Amen." 

"  Amen ! "  said  Theodora  ;  and  she 
crossed  her  brow,  and  bowed  her  head 
reverently,  making  at  the  same  time 


46  Michael  and  Theodora. 

that  act  of  soul  submission  we  voice  in 
those  solemn  words,  Thy  will  be  done. 

Matrina,  knowing  nothing  of  the 
paper,  wondered  at  the  little  interest 
Theodora  took  in  her  toilet.  However, 
she  looked  exceedingly  lovely  when  she 
entered  the  pretty  parlor  where  the 
Countess  waited  for  her.  That  lady 
was  in  the  freshest  of  French  morning- 
gowns,  and  she  was  drinking  chocolate. 
A  Parisian  maid  was  waiting  upon  her, 
and  their  conversation  was  entirely  in 
the  French  language,  which  the  Countess 
spoke  with  great  purity  and  elegance. 
French  newspapers  and  books  were 
scattered  around,  and  the  adornments 
and  atmosphere  of  the  room  were  utterly 
im-Russian.  It  was,  indeed,  a  bit  of 
Paris  transported  to  Moscow. 

Theodora  alone  was  out  of  character 
with  her  sunmmdings,  for  she  still  wore 
a  Russian  saraphan  of  dark  blue  velvet, 
buttoned  with  pearls,  and  showing  full 


MicJiael  and  Theodora,  47 

sleeves  of  the  finest  Dacca  muslin.  A 
lace  ruff  was  round  her  slender  throat; 
her  mittens  were  of  blue  silk  embroidered 
with  silver  thread;  her  slippers,  of  blue 
morocco,  had  very  high  silvered  heels; 
and  a  light  blue  ribbon  held  backward 
her  long,  flowing  curls  of  pale  brown 
hair. 

Her  aunt  stretched  out  her  hands  to 
her,  then  she  drew  her  to  her  side  and 
kissed  her  lips  and  cheeks ;  but  she  soon 
noticed  how  weary  and  sad  the  child 
looked. 

"  You  eat  nothing,  my  little  one,"  she 
said  tenderly.  "  Are  you  tired  with  the 
long  journey?  That  is  not  extraordi 
nary.  I  ani  myself  unable  to  move." 

"It   is    not   that    I    am    tired,    dearest 
aunt,"  she  whispered.     "It   is  because    I 
have  such  a  great  thing  to  carry  on  my- 
little  heart," 

"What  troubles  you?  Is  it  the  poor 
boy,  Michael?" 


48  Michael  and   Tlieodora. 

"  It  is  more  than  Michael.  I  cannot 
tell  you  until  we  are  alone." 

"Then  I  will  send  Fanchetta  away, 
and  you  shall  tell  me  now.  We  can 
bear  '  the  great  thing '  between  us,  no 
doubt.  Why,  then,  should  you  bear  it 
alone?  eh,  my  child?  What  do  you  say? 
Shall  I  dismiss  Fanchetta  at  once?"  • 

"If  you  will  be  so  good,  it  would  be 
a  great  kindness.  I  must  tell  you,  aunt. 
I  can  bear  it  no  longer.  Send  every  one 
from  the  room." 

"Even  Matrina?" 

"Yes,  even  Matrina." 

The  Countess  looked  at  the  little  girl 
and  she  was  amazed.  Theodora's  soul 
was  in  her  eyes.  Her  dazzlingly  fair 
skin  was  luminous ;  it  seemed  to  emanate 
light.  She  looked  taller.  She  looked 
to  be  all  spirit.  It  was  impossible  to 
resist  or  refuse  the  suffering,  the  en 
treaty,  that  her  face,  her  words,  and  her 
attitude  expressed.  Taken  together,  they 


Michael  and  Theodora.  49 

had    a    real    speech ;    they    said    to    the 
Countess,    "Arrest  yourself,  and  listen!" 

She  became  suddenly  serious  and  silent, 
and  by  an  imperative  motion  ordered 
every  servant  from  the  room.  Then 
Theodora  took  from  her  bosom  a  piece  of 
paper  and  offered  it  to  her  aunt.  It  was 
much  soiled  and  crumpled,  and  the  dainty 
lady  touched  it  with  visible  reluctance. 
But  ere  she  had  read  it  through  she 
uttered  a  shrill  cry,  rose  quickly  to  her 
feet  and  struck  the  table  bell  with  an 
extraordinary  passion  and  impatience.  A 
dozen  servants  flew  to  answer  her  sum 
mons. 

"  The  Count ! "  she  cried.  "  The  Count ! 
The  Count!  Tell  the  Count  to  come 
here  immediately  !  Without  delay  !  This 
very  moment." 

In  the  interval  she  quite  forgot  that 
she  was  "  unable  to  move."  She  paced 
the  room  with  rapid  steps.  In  a  rapture 
of  joy  she  kissed  Theodora  many  times. 


50  Michael  and  Theodora. 

She  murmured  and  muttered,  in  Russian 
and  in  French,  prayers  and  ejaculations. 
She  was  like  a  woman  upon  whom  has 
fallen  news  of  incredible  happiness  —  of 
happiness  too  great  to  bear. 

When  the  Count  entered  the  room  she 
ran  to  meet  him,  and  thrust  the  paper  into 
his  hand.  He  took  it  with  the  air  of  one 
who  desires  to  say,  "  What  is  all  this  com 
motion  about?  I  am  annoyed  by  it." 
And  he  touched  the  dirty,  shabby-looking 
missive  with  aversion,  feeling  a  little 
contempt  for  the  emotion  of  his  wife  and 
niece. 

But  his  own  emotion  was  soon  as  great 
as  theirs.  He  read  but  a  few  lines  ere  he 
went  to  the  corridor  and  sent  all  the 
servants  in  waiting  there  on  special  mes 
sages.  Then  he  locked  the  door,  and 
laying  the  paper  on  the  table,  he  read  it 
word  by  word  in  an  audible  whisper,— 

"  Prince  Sergius  Bazaroff :  —  Thou  hast 
not  sent  me  the  money.  Very  well,  I 


Michael  and  Theodora.  5  I 

shall  come  for  it  in  two  days.  Then, 
if  thou  pay  me  not,  I  will  go  to  the 
almighty  police.  I  will  tell  them  how 
thou  swore  away  the  honor  and  the 
liberty  of  thy  brother,  Prince  Ivan,  and 
also  of  thy  brother's  wife.  I  will  tell 
them  the  whole  plot.  Every  one  is  yet 
living  whom  thou  didst  employ.  I  know 
where  to  find  them.  And  then  thou  wilt 
not  escape  with  Siberia.  The  good  Czar 
will  not  breathe  in  this  world  with  thee. 
There  will  be  nothing  for  thee,  thou 
fratricide,  but  the  knout!  the  knout  to 
death !  This  is  from  Alez.  Kergoff,  at 
the  Inn  of  the  Great  Bear,  Street  of 
St.  John,  Moscow." 

Having  read  these  words  Count  Vasil 
appeared  for  a  moment  astounded.  His 
eyes  were  riveted  on  the  paper.  He  was 
not  as  sanguine  as  his  Countess  and 
Theodora.  He  foresaw  many  delays, 
doubts,  and  suspicions,  which  might 
affect  himself.  But  he  was  too  kind  to 


52  Michael  and  Theodora. 

utter  his  fears.  On  the  contrary,  he 
put  his  arms  around  Theodora  and  ques 
tioned  her  closely  concerning  the  stranger 
Avho  had  visited  Prince  Sergius.  Then 
he  said,— 

"This  duty  is  now  in  my  hands.  I 
will  see  to  it  at  once,  little  one.  Nothing 
that  I  have  will  I  spare.  If  I  can  get 
the  Czar's  ear  I  shall  succeed  immedi 
ately.  But  even  if  there  should  be  de 
lays,  in  the  end  all  is  sure  to  be  put 
right.  I  am  certain  of  it.  My  child, 
what  do  you  think?" 

"I  think,"  answered  Theodora,  "that 
God  is  greater  than  the  Prince  Sergius 
Bazaroff.  I  think,  too,  if  the  good  God 
begins  a  great  mercy,  he  will  not  stop 
short  till  it  is  certain." 

"Ah,  to  be  sure!"  cried  the  Countess 
passionately.  "When  the  good  God 
comes  to  judgment,  the  wicked  will  not 
be  able  to  hide  themselves.  Even  the 
mantle  of  the  Czar  will  not  cover  them  in 


Michael  arid  Theodora.  53 

that  day.  My  husband,  let  not  your  feet 
be  heavy.  When  one  is  saving  honor  and 
dear  life,  it  is  well  to  be  in  a  hurry." 

Then  Count  Vasil  went  quickly  out, 
but  he  left  a  smile  of  hope  behind  him. 
And  the  Countess  cried  for  joy,  and 
Theodora  wept  in  her  arms;  and  that 
day  they  did  not  go  to  the  great  shops  as 
they  intended;  they  sat  and  talked  of 
the  exiles  in  far  Siberia,  and  of  the 
anxious  child  still  at  Bazaroff;  and  some 
times  of  the  wicked  Prince  Sergius,  and 
all  his  wicked  doings.  And  the  Countess 
said,  over  and  over,  — 

"Well,  then,  this  is  true,  and  often 
have  I  said  it,  'Punishment  is  lame,  but 
it  is  sure  to  arrive  at  the  house  of  the 
wicked.'" 


Ill, 

"  Daughter  of  Justice,  wronged  Nemesis : 

To  all  alike  thou  metest  out  their  due, 
Cubit  for  cubit,  inch  for  inch,  stern  and  true. 

Euripides. 

r  I  ^HAT  day  the  Countess  had  intended 
-*•  to  take  Theodora  to  the  great  stores 
of  Moscow,  and  buy  her  many  new  gar 
ments  ;  for  she  desired  to  dress  her  in  the 
French  fashion.  But  the  news  which  the 
child  had  brought  overthrew  all  previous 
plans.  The  Countess  had  an  irritable, 
impulsive  nature,  and  she  had  never  been 
taught  to  control  any  emotion  that  pos 
sessed  her ;  consequently  she  behaved  like 
an  excited  child.  She  walked  about  the 
room,  clapping  her  hands  to  her  trium 
phant  anticipations ;  or  suddenly  smitten 


Michael  and  Theodora,  55 

with  some  fancied  fear,  she  was  plunged 
in  a  moment  into  despair  and  tearful 
forebodings. 

She  was  almost  angry  at  the  solemn 
calmness  with  which  Theodora  steadied 
her  soul.  She  did  not  understand  how 
the  long  sad  years  at  Bazaroff  had  taught 
the  little  girl  to  subdue  all  passionate 
expression  of  feeling,  lest  by  it  she 
should  irritate  her  uncle  Sergius,  and 
make  the  present  grief  still  harder  to 
bear. 

Yet  for  shopping  she  had  now  no  in 
clination  ;  and  though  she  stood  at  the 
windows,  and  looked  out  upon  the  motley, 
picturesque  picture,  constantly  moving 
through  the  streets,  she  was  hardly  con 
scious  of  what  passed  her  mortal  vision. 
She  saw  far  more  clearly  the  big,  bare 
schoolroom  at  Bazaroff,  in  which  she  had 
spent  most  of  her  life ;  its  white  stove, 
its  long  table  covered  with  books  and 
slates  and  needlework,  the  bright  eager 


56  Michael  and  Theodora. 

face  of  her  dear  brother  Michael,  and 
the  quiet  kindly  one  of  the  grave  master. 

On  the  next  day,  however,  the  Countess 
became  more  composed.  She  had  begun 
to  realize  that  the  Czar's  presence  and 
attention  could  not  be  stormed;  and  that 
ere  any  attempt  was  made  to  secure  his 
judgment  of  the  case,  all  the  preliminary 
work  of  securing  evidence  must  be 
perfect. 

"And  that  may  take  days  and  days, 
perhaps  even  weeks,"  she  cried  in  a  tem 
per  of  disappointment.  "  The  Count  says, 
this  man  and  the  other  man  are  to  find ; 
and  that  some  may  have  gone  to  St. 
Petersburg,  and  some  to  the  end  of  the 
Russias,  which  is  the  end  of  the  world, 
I  believe,  my  dear,  and  some  may  be 
afraid  to  speak;  and  in  short,  there  seems 
to  be  a  mountain  to  climb  for  every  step 
forward.  So  then,  we  may  as  well  make 
ourselves  as  happy  as  the  day  permits  us 
to  be  ;  and  the  saints,  no,  nor  your  dear 


Michael  and  Theodora.  57 

mother  herself,  will  make  any  objections 
if  we  go  to  the  silk  bazaar,  and  look  at 
a  few  things  which  are  so  necessary  to 
you.  For  I  tell  you  truly,  Theodora, 
you  are  a  beautiful  girl,  even  in  that 
provincial  dress ;  then  how  much  more 
beautiful  will  you  be  dressed  in  the 
French  fashion  !  " 

Theodora  shook  her  head.  She  did 
not  wish  to  be  turned  into  a  French 
girl.  She  was  a  Russian  girl,  in  the 
heart  of  Russia.  She  was  under  the 
shadow  of  the  Kremlin.  From  its  hun 
dreds  of  shining,  golden  domes  the 
cross  of  her  faith  was  glittering.  She 
could  not  turn  her  eyes  anywhere  and 
not  see  the  black  eagles  of  Russia  hover 
ing  with  vast  outspread  wings  over  the 
city.  She  loved  her  country.  She  loved 
the  great  Czar.  She  had  been  taught  to 
regard  him  as  Russia's  patriarch  and 
father.  She  never  imagined  the  Czar 
doing  anything  unkind  or  unjust.  On 


58  Michael  and  TJicodora. 

the  contrary,  he  was  the  savior  and  com 
forter  of  his  people. 

If  she  could  only  reach  the  steps  of 
his  august  throne!  if  she  could  only 
fall  at  his  feet !  She  would  put  into  his 
hands  the  letter  which  she  had  given  to 
Count  Vasil,  and  then  she  was  certain  he 
would  restore  her  parents  to  honor  and  to 
liberty,  without  a  moment's  delay.  Yes, 
and  he  would  also  severely  punish  those 
wicked  ones  who  had  betrayed  the  inno 
cent  to  such  bitter  shame  and  suffering. 

So  day  after  day  went  slowly  past. 
There  was  no  pleasure  taking  possible. 
Theodora  scarcely  eat  or  slept.  She 
grew  thin  and  weak.  She  trembled  at  a 
footstep,  at  the  sound  even  of  her  own 
name ;  and  Matrina,  who  knew  nothing 
of  the  cause,  was  dull  and  disappointed 
at  the  change. 

"  Behold  how  contrary  is  good  fortune ! " 
she  cried  in  a  tone  of  injury.  "  At  Baza- 
roff,  where  we  hardly  dared  to  breathe, 


Michael  and  Theodora.  59 

where  the  days  were  a  hundred  hours 
long,  and  nothing  whatever  but  misery 
was  to  be  seen  or  heard  tell  of,  there,  to 
be  sure,  my  Princess  was  happy.  She 
smiled,  and  eat  her  food,  and  slept  like  an 
angel ;  and  now  here,  in  great  Moscow, 
in  a  palace  full  of  delightful  things,  where 
our  eyes  can  see  strange  sights  continually, 
and  our  ears  ring  with  pleasant  words,  and 
our  mouths  be  full  of  good  things  to  eat, 
—  here,  as  I  say,  my  contradictious  Prin 
cess  is  miserable  by  night  and  by  day." 

However,  there  is  one  great  mercy  in 
all  times  of  our  sorrow  and  anxiety.  God 
says  how  long  we  shall  suffer,  and  no  man 
can  make  the  trial  a  moment  longer. 
After  nine  days  had  passed,  Count  Vasil 
returned  suddenly  to  his  home.  He  came 
like  a  bringer  of  good  tidings.  His  great 
black  horses  flew  over  the  frozen  ground, 
tossing  their  long  manes,  and  jingling 
their  many  bells,  as  if  they  knew  there 
was  a  happy  heart  behind  them.  It  was 


60  Michael  and  TJieodora. 

the  noon  hour,  and  Theodora  was  sitting 
with  her  aunt.  Both  heard  the  arrival, 
and  both  instantly  sat  attent,  with  every 
sense  strained  to  listen.  Neither  was 
able  to  utter  a  word.  The  Countess 
dropped  the  novel  she  was  reading  upon 
the  floor.  Theodora  rose  to  her  feet, 
reached  the  middle  of  the  room,  and  then 
stood  still.  All  the  life  she  had  was  set 
to  that  moment.  Both  heard  the  rapid 
footsteps  coming  nearer  and  nearer. 
Then  the  door  was  flung  impetuously 
open,  and  the  face  of  the  Count  shed  an 
instant  sense  of  success  and  of  happiness. 
He  stretched  out  his  arms  and  caught 
the  trembling,  fainting  child  to  his  breast. 
He  kissed  her  tenderly,  and  said  words 
to  her  that  made  her  sob  for  joy.  Then 
the  world  seemed  to  be  turning  round 
with  her,  to  be  slipping  away  from  under 
her  feet ;  she  heard  her  aunt's  voice  at  an 
immense  distance;  all  was  unintelligible, 
void,  and  dark. 


Michael  and  Theodora.  61 

When  she  recovered  consciousness, 
Count  and  Countess  Vasil  and  Matrina 
were  at  her  side,  and  a  physician  stood  by 
the  stove.  She  had  been  ill  for  three 
hours.  The  poor  child  was  troubled  at 
her  weakness,  she  was  full  of  apologies, 
she  felt  as  if  she  had  been  very  selfish; 
for  nothing  had  been  done  yet  to  make 
Michael  equally  happy,  and  three  hours 
were  gone.  She  was  glad  to  hear  her 
uncle  ask  her,  "Can  you  talk  a  little 
now,  my  child?" 

Her  white,  shining  face,  full  of  eager 
anxiety,  answered  him.  He  dismissed 
the  physician  and  Matrina.  He  took 
her  hands  and  spoke  thus, — 

"  Theodora,  you  may  now  say,  '  Glory 
to  Grod.r  The  man  Kergoff  was  easily 
found,  and  with  very  little  persuasion  he 
made  a  clean  confession.  He  also  pro 
duced  all  the  confederates  in  the  wicked 
plot  which  sent  your  poor  parents  to 
shame  and  to  Siberia.  I  laid,  with  haste, 


62  Michael  and  Theodora. 

the  whole  testimony  before  the  Czar.  He 
heard  my  story  with  the  greatest  pity  and 
anger.  He  immediately  issued  orders  for 
the  honorable  release  of  the  Prince  and 
Princess  Bazaroff,  and  also  for  the  arrest 
of  Prince  Sergius  Bazaroff.  Listen!  it 
is  even  possible  that  your  dear  father 
and  mother  will  be  here  for  Christmas; 
and  oh,  my  little  one,  will  not  that  be 
a  Christmas  festival?" 

"My  uncle,  I  have  become  dumb 
nearly.  My  heart  is  so  full  of  happiness 
there  is  no  room  for  words  in  it.  I  can 
not  tell  you  what  I  feel — -I  feel  to  my 
finger  tips." 

"My  child,"  whispered  the  Countess, 
as  she  kissed  Theodora  fervently,  "  now 
we  shall  keep  a  great  Christmas,  —  a 
very  fine  old  Russian  Christmas  !  Will 
not  that  make  you  very  happy  ?  " 

"  As  you  please,  dear  aunt.  I  know 
not  Christmas.  I  have  forgotten  Christ- 
mas.  Christmas  came  not  to  Bazaroff. 


Michael  and   TJieodora.  63 

My  uncle  Sergius  said,  we  were  the 
children  of  traitors,  and  unworthy  to  be 
counted  among  the  faithful." 

"  The  poor  child !  Count,  what  say 
you?  Shall  we  not  keep  a  children's 
Christmas,  this  glad  year  ?  " 

"  I  am  of  your  mind,  my  Countess. 
However,  my  good  news  is  not  all  told 
yet.  As  you  know,  there  is  a  festival 
before  Christmas,  the  Day  of  St.  Nicho 
las,  the  fete  day  of  our  Emperor;  and 
what  think  you?  our  Theodora  is  bidden 
to  it !  Yes,  indeed  !  Theodora  is  bidden 
by  the  words  of  the  Emperor  himself." 

"  Ah !  what  an  honor !  What  then 
is  intended  by  such  a  grace  ?  " 

"  I  will  tell  you  all,  and  then  you  must 
confess  that  our  Czar  is  a  very  just  man. 
He  said  to  me,  '  Count  Vasil,  in  the 
presence  of  my  whole  Court  I  ordered  the 
arrest  of  Prince  and  Princess  Bazaroff. 
Before  the  nobles  I  degraded  him.  Very 
well  then,  it  is  right  that  I  as  publicly 


64  MicJiacl  and   TJicodora. 

justify  and'  honor  him.  At  the  feast  of 
St.  Nicholas  I  will  do  this  act  of  justice. 
I  will  make  him  a  marshal  of  the  Empire. 
He  shall  be  close  to  my  own  person. 
The  ukas  shall  be  written  at  once,  and 
you  shall  at  that  public  time  receive  them 
for  him.'  " 

"  Well  then,  what  said  you  ?  " 

"  You  know,  Countess,  how  sometimes 
the  soul  will  speak  when  it  is  not  bidden 
to  speak ;  and  it  was  so  at  this  moment. 
For,  without  a  thought,  I  answered 
boldly,  '  Sire,  the  little  daughter  of  Prince 
Ivan  Bazaroff  is  now  with  me.  Permit 
her  to  take  this  great  joy  and  honor  from 
your  hand.'  ' 

"  And  what  said  the  Czar  ?  " 

"He  smiled  with  pleasure  and  an 
swered,  '  Let  it  be  as  you  say,  Count ;  at 
the  feast  of  St.  Nicholas.'  So  you  see 
there  is  only  this  thing  to  be  done." 

"  It  is  a  great  thing  for  a  child  to  do. 
How  is  she  to  be  taught  what  is  neces- 


Michael  and  TJieodora.  65 

sary?  Besides  which,  remember  she  has 
only  ten  years.  Theodora,  do  you  under 
stand?  The  Czar  bids  you  to  his  birth 
day  feast.  He  will  justify  and  honor 
your  parents  through  you.  What  will 
you  say  or  do,  my  poor  child  ?  You  will 
lose  your  intelligence,  you  will  be  afraid. " 

"  Oh,  no,  aunt !  Afraid  of  the  good 
Czar  ?  Why  should  I  fear  him  ?  Is  he 
not  my  father,  also?  I  think  he  will  be 
very  kind  to  his  little  daughter.  How 
happy  are  the  Russian  people!  They 
have  a  great  father  always  ready  to  defend 
them.  How  just  our  Czar  must  be ! 
No  ;  I  shall  not  be  afraid.  Indeed,  I  shall 
be  most  happy  to  see  his  face." 

"  But  perhaps  he  may  even  speak  to 
you,  child ;  then  what  will  you  say  ? 
There  must  certainly  be  a  little  speech 
prepared." 

"  But  why  so,  aunt  ?  When  the  heart 
is  full,  something  always  crosses  your 
mind,  and  you  speak." 


66  MicJiacl  and  Theodora. 

"But  you  did  not  speak  to  me;  you 
fainted." 

"Ah,  my  dear  uncle,  that  was  because 
I  could  not  eat  or  sleep  for  many  days,  so 
my  body  failed  me,  not  my  soul.  Now 
I  can  eat  and  sleep,  and  I  shall  not  fear 
the  good  Czar,  not  in  the  least." 

"To  be  sure.  Sleep  and  eat,  and  be 
well  and  strong.  There  is  now  nothing 
to  be  uneasy  about." 

"  One  other  thing,  dear  uncle ;  there  is 
Michael,  —  Michael  who  is  waiting  and 
watching  at  Bazaroff.  Surely  some  one 
must  go  to  Michael.  I  accuse  myself  that 
I  forgot  Michael's  anxiety  for  those  three 
hours." 

"  You  are  quite  right,  Theodora.  Some 
one  must  go  at  once  ;  some  one  who 
knows  how  to  be  prudent.  How  is  it  to 
be  managed,  I  wonder?" 

"  I  will  tell  you,  uncle.  Before  I  left 
Bazaroff,  when  Mr.  Cecil  gave  me  the 
letter  he  said,  '  If  all  goes  well,  send  back 


Michael  and  Theodora.  67 

Matrina  to  Bazaroff.  It  is  safe  to  tell 
Matrina,  and  she  will  find  out  a  way  to 
let  us  know,  without  arousing  the  sus 
picions  of  Prince  Sergius.  As  soon,  there 
fore,  as  Michael  and  Mr.  Cecil  know  that 
Matrina  has  returned,  they  will  know  all 
is  well.  Even  if  she  finds  no  way  to 
speak  with  Michael,  her  presence  will  be 
a  good  message  to  him." 

"As  for  an  excuse  for  her  return,  I 
have  one  ready,"  said  the  Count.  "There 
are  certain  papers  regarding  the  manage 
ment  of  the  estate  which  ought  to  have 
been  sent  to  the  public  sequestrator,  but 
which  he  has  failed  to  deliver.  I -will 
write  by  Matrina,  and  tell  him  to  return 
them  by  her  hand.  I  will  write  in  such 
a  way  that  even  his  guilty  conscience 
will  suspect  nothing." 

"  Very  good,  for  I  tell  you,  Count,  I 
have  no  wish  for  him  to  escape  those 
officers  of  justice  who  will  soon  overtake 
him.  I  desire  that  he  may  have  the  cup 
of  punishment  quite  full." 


68  MicJiacl  and  Theodora. 

"  So  then  Matrina  may  go  now,  at 
once,  dear  aunt?  I  feel  every  hour  of 
my  own  happiness  a  little  burden  until 
Michael  is  also  made  happy." 

"  Matrina  shall  go  at  once.  I  will  give 
orders  about  the  horses  and  drivers.  You 
must  send  for  Matrina  and  make  her 
understand  what  is  to  be  told  and  what 
is  to  be  prevented." 

Matrina  answered  the  bell  of  her  mis 
tress  with  a  listless  air.  She  had  become 
weary  of  Theodora's  apparently  unreason 
able  depression ;  but  when  its  cause  was 
explained  to  her,  when  she  understood 
what  a  weight  of  care  the  child  had  been 
carrying  without  her  help  and  sympathy, 
she  was  ashamed  and  angry  at  her  selfish 
resentment  of  the  Princess's  want  of  in 
terest  in  the  pleasures  and  splendors 
around  her.  She  was  overcome  with  joy 
also,  and  eager  to  do  all  in  her  power. 
"  It  was  a  little  thing  they  asked  of  her," 
she  said.  "  She  would  have  wished  to  be 


MicJiael  and  Theodora.  69 

sent  even  to  Siberia  with  such  glad  tid 
ings." 

So  long  before  the  short  daylight  was 
over,  Matrina  was  in  a  sleigh,  flying  across 
the  frozen  snow,  but  feeling  neither  cold 
nor  weariness,  because  of  the  great  news 
hidden  in  her  heart.  She  thought  of  a 
hundred  ways  in  which  it  would  be  possi 
ble  to  tell  Michael;  and  while  she  hasted 
forward  on  her  merciful  journey,  Theo 
dora  was  kneeling  before  the  altar  in  her 
room,  where  that  night  she  talked  a  long 
time  with  God. 


IV. 

"Mercy  and  truth  are   met  together;   right 
eousness   and   peace   have  kissed  each  other."  - 
Psalms  Ixxxv.  10. 

T  T  was  possible  now  for  the  little  girl 
"*•  and  her  aunt  to  do  some  shopping, 
and  to  look  at  the  many  wonders  of 
Moscow.  So,  for  a  day  or  two,  they 
were  nearly  constantly  on  the  streets, 
and  Theodora  saw  many  things  that  in 
terested  her.  Most  of  all,  she  was  im 
pressed  by  the  pious  character  of  the 
people.  There  were  little  churches  or 
chapels  at  the  corners  of  every  street, 
and  they  were  all  full  with  worshippers. 
Indeed,  no  one,  whether  they  were  rich 
or  poor,  passed  the  doors  of  any  church 
without  crossing  themselves  with  a  dumb 
adoration  that  was  very  impressive. 


Michael  and  Theodora.  71 

"  It  is  certain  that  the  Russians  are  a 
very  pious  people,"  said  the  Countess, 
with  an  air  of  satisfaction ;  and,  indeed, 
she  took  Theodora  into  several  churches 
to  make  her  own  devotions.  And  the 
child  was  speechless  with  amazement  and 
admiration,  for  in  Russia  the  churches 
are  storehouses  of  gold  and  jewels,  and 
they  are  generally  in  a  blaze  of  light, 
with  a  multitude  of  burning  wax  tapers. 
The  splendor,  the  light,  the  solemn 
strains  of  fine  music,  the  continual  chim 
ing  of  deep-toned  bells,  the  tall  grave 
clergy  with  their  blue  eyes  and  undipped 
hair  and  beards,  and  their  sedate  manner 
of  walking  that  nothing  flustered,  im 
pressed  Theodora  with  a  strange  sense 
of  another  and  a  loftier  life  in  the  midst 
of  this  toiling,  commonplace,  striving 
one.  She  was  startled  also  by  the  near 
ness  of  these  two  lives,  when  she  sud 
denly  passed  from  some  busy  storehouse, 
alive  with  eager  purchasers  of  cloths  and 


72  MicJiacl  and   Theodora. 

silks,  into  the  solemn  quiet  of  some  holy 
church,  with  its  perpetual  glory  of  light 
and  jewels,  its  silent  worship,  the  limned 
icons  on  its  walls,  the  holy  relics  in  its 
golden  shrines,  the  great  crosses  shining 
with  priceless  gems,  and  the  speechless 
rapture  or  triumphant  adoration  of  the 
worshippers.  It  was  such  a  different 
thing  from  the  noisy  shouting  and  the 
turmoil  of  the  earthly  life  which  surged 
close  to  the  very  church  doors,  and  even 
made  fitful  mournful  echoes  between  the 
Jubilates  and  the  Te  Deums. 

To  be  sure,  all  the  churches  faded  from 
her  mind  when  she  at  last  stood  within 
the  Kremlin,  the  citadel  and  the  sanctuary 
of  old  Moscow.  She  was  confounded 
with  its  mass  of  little  chapels,  their  cu 
polas  and  spires  and  pinnacles  jumbled 
together.  The  very  outside  walls  made 
her  speechless  with  admiration,  they  were 
so  ribbed  and  twisted,  and  wreathed  and 
fluted ;  so  richly  inlaid  with  odd  tiles  of 


Michael  and  Tlicodora.  73 

every  color,  glazed  and  glistening  like 
serpent  scales ;  so  adorned  and  crowned 
with  golden  domes,  and  spires,  and 
crosses. 

And  then  to  come  suddenly  from  this 
still,  sacred  splendor  into  the  noisy  con 
fusion  of  the  Nijni,  to  walk  through  the 
great  warehouses  filled  with  malachite 
and  lapis-lazuli,  was  a  contrast  the  sensi 
tive  child  could  not  avoid  feeling  very 
keenly ;  and  young  and  ignorant  as  she 
was,  the  treasures  of  the  great  empire 
filled  her  heart  with  patriotic  admiration. 
She  looked  with  wonder  on  the  gold  and 
silver  work  from  the  Caucasus,  cut  and 
chased  with  all  the  minute  diligence 
of  Asiatics,  at  the  carpets  from  Turkey, 
the  silk  from  Persia,  the  famous  shawls 
from  Orenburg ;  and  she  went  with  de 
light  into  the  fine  tea-houses,  where  white- 
robed  attendants  served  them  with  cups 
of  delicious  Overland  tea  with  a  slice  of 
lemon  in  it. 


74  Michael  and  Theodora. 

All  was  like  an  Arabian  Night  tale  to 
Theodora,  who  was  also  charmed  with  the 
happy,  good-natured  look  of  the  working 
people.  "  They  do  not  cast  down  their 
faces,  dear  aunt,"  she  cried  in  a  kind  of 
wonder.  "  They  do  not  seem  to  be  in 
trouble ;  at  Bazaroff,  for  instance,  the 
poor  people  had  always  tears  in  their 
eyes ;  they  were  afraid  of  the  lash  ;  they 
trembled  when  Uncle  Sergius  spoke  to 
them.  Life  was  such  a  great  sorrow  at 
Bazaroff." 

"  It  will  soon  be  very  different,  my 
little  one.  You  will  see !  For  the  Rus 
sians  are  the  best  natured  creatures  in  the 
world,  easy,  contented,  and  quite  happy 
to  work." 

"  Yet,  always,  Prince  Sergius  called 
them  idle  and  drunken.  Even  Mr.  Cecil 
said  they  did  not  work  much." 

"What  will  you  have,  my  dear?  The 
priests  make  them  to  keep  one  hundred 
and  seventy  holidays  every  year,  besides 


Michael  and   Theodora.  75 

their  fast  days  and  their  Sundays.  How 
then  can  they  work?  We  must  put  the 
blame  where  it  is  right  to  put  it.  If  the 
Emperor,  who  is  the  great  patiiarch, 
would  be  pleased  to  consider  that  so  many 
holidays  are  very  bad,  both  for  the  house 
and  the  city,  and  also  for  the  farm,  we 
might  have  some  good  of  our  people, 
and  the  saints  be  none  the  worse  served. 
If  I  was  a  man  I  should  write  and  speak 
about  it." 

"Do  people  who  write  really  make 
others  think  as  they  do?  Why  then  is 
there  any  trouble?  Some  one  should 
write  to  the  good  Emperor  always  about 
what  is  wrong." 

"  That  reminds  me,  Theodora.  It  is 
you,  dear  child,  that  will  have,  maybe, 
to  speak  to  the  Emperor ;  and  we  have 
been  looking  at  this  and  that,  and  have 
quite  forgotten  your  dress,  which  is  a 
most  important  affair.  Now  we  will  go 
to  Madame  Demaines,  for  you  must  be 


76  Michael  and  Theodora. 

fitted  with  a  costume  that  will  make  all 
eyes  turn  upon  you.  And  madame  will 
understand  precisely  what  will  be  the 
best  and  the  most  beautiful." 

"  Dearest  aunt !  permit  that  I  wear  my 
Russian  dress,  the  dress  that  I  love  and 
am  at  my  ease  in.  Matrina  has  taught 
me  how  to  wear  my  saraphan ;  but  in 
these  French  dresses  I  shall  be  very 
awkward  and  miserable." 

"  But,  Theodora,  dress  is  a  thing  a  little 
girl  knows  nothing  about,  and  our  Em 
peror  knows  much  about  it.  I  assure  you 
that  a  pretty  costume  will  make  a  pretty 
impression.  When  people  have  a  favor 
to  ask  it  is  half  granted  to  a  well-dressed 
suppliant." 

"  But,  dear  aunt,  I  shall  not  look  pretty 
in  a  French  dress.  I  shall  be  ungraceful. 
I  shall  be  troubled  by  the  long  skirt.  I 
shall  be  sick  with  the  tight  bands.  Per 
mit  me  to  be  a  Russian  girl.  I  assure 
you  that  I  will  not  make  my  friends 


Michael  and  Theodora.  77 

ashamed  of  my  behavior.  Often  Matrina 
has  told  me  how  to  conduct  myself  when 
I  should  come  into  a  great  and  noble 
company." 

But  the  Countess  was  not  to  be  per 
suaded,  and  Theodora  very  reluctantly 
submitted  to  the  dictation  of  he^  aunt 
and  the  French  modiste.  However, 
when  the  trial  was  over,  it  was  over ; 
for  at  night  when  the  subject  was  intro 
duced  to  Count  Vasil,  he  agreed  with 
Theodora  in  the  most  decided  manner. 

"  By  all  means,"  he  said,  "  let  the  little 
one  wear  our  pretty  national  costume. 
It  is  charming  on  a  child  so  charming ; 
and  I  am  most  certain  that  the  Emperor 
will  be  pleased,  for  anything  that  is 
Russian  goes  at  once  to  his  heart.  Be 
sides,  Countess,  a  new  dress  is  usually 
most  uncomfortable.  I,  for  instance,  am 
always  miserable  and  most  constrained  in 
my  manner  in  a  new  suit  of  clothes." 

"  Ta-ta-ta !    thou  art  a  man.     A  woman, 


MicJiacl  and   Theodora. 

yes,  even  a  little  girl,  is  very  different. 
With  a  new  dress  they  put  on  a  kind 
of  genius.  Do  me  the  favor,  Count,  to 
neglect  Theodora's  dress.  It  will  not 
be  forgotten  by  me." 

"  One  thing,  my  Countess,  is  not  to 
be  disputed,  the  dress  must  be  a  Russian 
dress ;  as  for  the  materials  and  the  colors, 
that  is  well  in  your  judgment,  for  there 
is  no  woman  so  excellently  fitted  to  judge 
in  such  matters." 

"  It  shall,  then,  be  as  you  say,  Count ; 
yet  if  there  should  be  failure  — 

"  There  will  be  no  failure.  The  word 
is  not  to  be  used. " 

"  Very  well  then,  Theodora.  It  is  to 
be  the  Russian  dress.  Am  I  riot  very 
complaisant  ?  " 

"  You  are  very  kind,  dearest  aunt ;  and 
I  assure  you  the  Russian  dress  is  the  best. 
At  the  end  you  shall  confess  this  is  the 
truth." 

The  next  day  they  went  at  a  rush  to 


Michael  and  Theodora,  79 

St.  Petersburg,  for  the  feast  of  St. 
Nicholas  was  close  at  hand.  It  was  a 
cold,  bleak,  and  very  tiresome  journey, 
but  the  rapid  movement,  the  strange 
sights  and  sounds,  and  her  great  weari 
ness,  made  Theodora  sleep  so  much  and 
so  heavily  that  the  realities  by  which 
she  was  encompassed  fitted  into  her 
dreams  and  became  a  part  of  them ; 
and  at  length  they  came  one  day,  about 
the  noon  hour,  in  sight  of  St.  Peters 
burg,  squatting  like  an  immense  alli 
gator,  half  in  and  half  out  of  the  water 
of  the  Neva  swamps. 

"  Look  at  our  great  city,  Theodora," 
said  the  Count.  "I  tell  you  that  I 
think  it  modelled  on  Amsterdam,  and 
not  unlike  Venice.  But,  doubtless,  some 
day  you  will  be  able  to  make  your 
own  comparisons." 

Theodora  raised  herself  and  looked 
eagerly  down  the  miles  and  miles  of 
"  Prospects,"  the  endless,  wide-open 


8o  MicJiacl  and  TJicodora, 

spaces,  the  long  streets,  the  lines  of 
walls,  the  rows  of  trees,  and  the  inter 
minable  avenues. 

"  There  seems  to  be  no  end  of  them, 
uncle,"  she  said  wearily. 

"  My  dear,  you  must  know  that  these 
unending  avenues  have  a  purpose  ;  they 
permit  the  town  to  run  out  of  town. 
It  is  a  most  necessary  arrangement. 
But  here  is  the  end  of  our  journey. 
Alight,  little  one !  You  are  at  home. 
May  you  be  happy." 

They  were  entering  a  noble  palace  as 
he  spoke,  going  up  a  broad  staircase  of 
Carrara  marble,  lined  with  servants  wear 
ing  powdered  wigs  and  gay  liveries  in 
the  style  of  the  old  French  Court.  The 
rooms  were  more  spacious  and  more 
lofty  than  those  of  the  Moscow  palace, 
and  more  richly  adorned  with  malachite, 
jasper,  and  lapis-lazuli.  A  constant  stir 
and  movement  filled  the  place,  and  the 
champing  and  neighing  of  the  horses 


Michael  and  Theodora.  81 

could  be  heard  from  the  fine  stables  but 
a  little  distance  away. 

Theodora's  heart  filled  and  swelled  to 
the  sense  of  all  this  vivid  life.  She  felt 
the  influx  of  new  motives  and  of  new 
hopes.  Her  cheeks  flushed,  her  eyes 
gleamed;  she  was  spiritually  "possessed" 
by  the  ideas  which  had  just  come  into 
her  experience.  And  yet,  this  feeling  of 
exaltation  was  dashed  and  darkened  by 
the  sombre  recollections  of  her  beloved 
brother.  How  sad  was  the  life  her  dear 
Michael  was  leading!  How  real  were  all 
its  terrors  and  sufferings!  How  unreal 
and  shadowy  and  uncertain  its  hopes ! 
She  could  feel  how  long  the  days  must 
be  to  the  hearts  watching  at  Bazaroff, 
and,  thinking  of  these  things,  she  herself 
trembled  with  impatience.  Yes,  indeed, 
very  often,  both  when  in  society  and  in 
solitude,  her  tender  heart  cried  out  im 
patiently,  "  Oh,  that  the  Feast  of  St. 
Nicholas  were  here  !  When  will  it  arrive  ? 
Every  hour  is  a  whole  year  long ! " 


82  MicJiacl  and  Theodora. 

But  at  last  whatever  is  waited  for 
comes.  The  great  day  dawned.  Theo 
dora  rose  in  a  strangely  quiet,  solemn 
mood.  She  stood  a  moment  and  looked 
at  her  new  costume ;  it  satisfied  her  de 
sires,  and  she  turned  quickly  from  it 
and  went  to  her  altar.  There  she  pros 
trated  herself  for  a  long  time  before  the 
God  who  says,  "  Suffer  the  little  chil 
dren  to  come  unto  me."  She  put  her 
small  hand  in  his  hand  and  prayed, 
"  Lead  thou  me  in  the  way  I  should  go. 
I  am  so  ignorant,  guide  me  with  thy 
counsel.  I  am  only  a  little  child.  Thou 
art  the  Lord  God  omnipotent.  I  am 
am  not  afraid  of  thee,  O  my  God,  why 
then  should  I  fear  the  Czar,  who  is  but 
thy  servant  ?  " 

In  such  prayer  all  the  day  long  she 
strengthened  her  heart  in  God,  and  as 
the  hours  went  by  she  became  calm  and 
self-possessed,  almost  happy.  She  had 
lost  all  fear,  and  when  her  maids  came 


Michael  and  Theodora.  83 

to  robe  her  for  the  great  interview  she 
rose  with  a  smile  and  began  to  take  a 
great  interest  in  her  adornment.  She 
said  softly  to  herself,  what  her  aunt  had 
said  to  her,  "So  much  depends  upon  a 
pretty  dress.  I  must  remember  that  to 
night;  I  dress  myself  for  my  dear  father 
and  mother  and  Michael." 

Certainly  in  no  French  dress  could 
she  have  looked  more  lovely.  Her  sara- 
phan  was  of  white  satin  embroidered 
with  gold,  and  it  had  sleeves  of  glisten 
ing  Indian  gauze.  Her  shoes  were  of 
white  satin  trimmed  with  sapphires,  and 
round  her  head  she  wore  a  coronal  of 
the  same  heaven-blue  gems ;  and  never 
before  had  her  personal  beauty  been  so 
remarkable.  It  was  impossible  not  to 
be  charmed  with  her  sweet,  childlike 
face,  and  large  wondering  blue  eyes. 
Her  complexion  was  like  that  of  a  lily. 
She  was  tall  and  slender,  and  as  she 
walked  she  seemed  to  fill  the  air  with 


84  Michael  and  Theodora. 

fragrance  and  grace  as  a  swaying  flower 
does.  Her  carriage  was  noble  and  erect, 
her  air  that  of  the  most  innocent  con 
fidence.  "She  is  like  an  angel,"  said 
her  uncle  Vasil.  And,  indeed,  when 
a  young  girl  has  a  beautiful  body, 
transfigured  by  a  beautiful  soul,  oh,  how 
lovely  and  lovable  she  is! 

And  so  sure  was  she  of  her  angel's 
presence,  and  of  the  blessing  and  approval 
of  God,  that  she  did  not  feel  the  least 
fear  when  she  entered  the  magnificent 
palace  of  the  great  Czar.  The  blaze  of 
light  and  of  gold  and  jewels,  the  splendid 
uniforms  of  the  men,  the  beautiful  dresses 
of  the  women,  the  quantity  of  radiant 
flowers,  the  stirring  music  of  the  military 
bands,  all  these  things  appeared  to  be 
the  fit  and  proper  surroundings  of  her 
mood  of  exaltation ;  as  proper  as  the 
sunshine  is  for  the  blooming  rose. 

So  she  glided  along  between  her  uncle 
and  aunt  Vasil  as  if  she  were  in  a  dream, 


Michael  and  Theodora.  85 

quite  unconscious  that  the  very  presence 
of  a  little  girl  in  that  august  assembly 
was  in  itself  a  very  strange  and  wonder 
ful  thing,  and  was  causing  a  great  curios 
ity  among  the  various  princes  and  mar 
shals,  and  dukes  and  duchesses,  gathered 
in  the  throne-room. 

Perhaps  all  this  human  interest  and 
curiosity  might  have  been  an  annoying 
and  weakening  influence  if  she  had  had 
to  bear  it  for  any  great  length  of  time, 
but  she  had  not.  A  very  few  minutes 
passed,  and  then  the  Emperor  and  Em 
press  entered  together.  Theodora's  eyes 
were  instantly  fixed  upon  the  Emperor. 
His  impressive  figure,  majestic  with  the 
air  of  empire,  his  potent  face,  on  which 
will  sat  enthroned,  fascinated  her  child 
heart.  Her  first  and  instantaneous 
thought  was,  "  This  is  the  mighty  Czar 
who  has  given  me  back  father  and  mothe: 
and  home  !  This  is  he  who  has  ransomed 
those  I  love  from  such  great  suffering  and 


86  Michael  and  Theodora. 

degradation."  And  at  that  moment  she 
would  have  willingly  died  for  him. 

There  was  an  intense  stillness  as  the 
Emperor  bowed  to  his  assembled  nobles. 
Then  he  said  a  few  words  to  a  gray  old 
marshal,  who  was  covered  with  medals 
and  honorable  "orders,"  and  the  marshal 
stepped  forward  and  said  in  a  loud,  clear 
voice,  — 

"  Nobles  and  Brothers  of  the  Russian 
Empire :  It  has  been  fully  proven  that  the 
Prince  Ivan  Bazaroff  was  falsely  accused. 
It  is  therefore  the  gracious  pleasure  of 
the  Emperor,  on  this,  his  own  fete  day, 
to  restore  to  Prince  Ivan  Bazaroff  all  his 
civil  rights  and  his  large  estates  ;  and,  also, 
the  Emperor  declares  his  conviction  of 
Prince  Ivan  Bazaroffs  love  and  loyalty, 
by  making  him  grand  marshal  of  the 
Emperor's  own  guard.  The  ukase  relat 
ing  to  these  changes  is  declared." 

There  was  a  quick  sound  of  inarticu 
late  rejoicing,  a  stir  of  happiness  not  to 


MicJiacl  and   Theodora.  87 

be  expressed,  an  indefinable  sense  of 
happy  expectation ;  and  then  Count 
Vasil  spoke  to  Theodora,  and  she  walked 
straight  to  the  Emperor.  Her  beauty  and 
grace  delighted  every  eye ;  and  the  ecstasy 
of  love  and  gratitude  which  filled  her 
heart  produced  in  her  an  unconscious 
elevation,  preventing  all  fear  or  faltering. 
A  low  murmur  of  admiration  followed 
the  child.  She  had  been  told  to  cast 
herself  at  the  feet  of  the  Czar.  She  did 
not  think  of  that.  On  the  contrary,  she 
raised  her  eyes  to  his  face. 

"  My  child  !  "  he  said  kindly. 

"My  Czar!  My  Czar!"  and  forgetting 
all  else  in  that  supreme  moment  of  her 
desire,  she  stretched  out  her  arms,  and 
lifted  her  face  to  his  face  as  if  he  were 
indeed  her  father. 

The  action  was  so  genuine  and  spon 
taneous  that  it  compelled  its  own  answer, 
and  a  thrill  of  sympathy  stirred  the  great 
company  when  the  Emperor  stooped  and 


88  Michael  and  Theodora. 

kissed  the  tears  from  the  little  one's  wet 
eyelids.  Then  the  Empress  also  kissed 
her,  and  the  grand  measure  of  the  polo 
naise  struck  up,  and  the  nobles  formed 
themselves  for  its  march;  but  Theodora 
knew  not  anything  more,  distinctly,  un 
til  she  found  herself  in  the  Vasil  car 
riage,  crying  softly  in  her  aunt's  arms ; 
crying  for  very  joy. 


V. 

"  Hark !  the  herald  angels  sing, 
Glory  to  the  new-born  king !  " 

"  At  Christmas,  play  and  make  good  cheer, 
For  Christmas  comes  but  once  a  year." 

'T^HEODORA  was  now  the  heroine  of 
-*-  the  hour.  Nobles  and  peasants  alike 
talked  of  nothing  but  the  beautiful  child 
and  the  great  Emperor's  justice  and  kind 
ness.  Hundreds  of  curious  people  passed 
the  Vasil  palace,  only  for  the  hope  oi 
seeing  Theodora  at  some  of  its  windows ; 
and  the  reception-rooms  of  the  Countess 
were  crowded  with  very  great  ladies,  who 
were  delighted  to  speak  to  the  little  girl 
and  to  kiss  her  cheek.  As  they  drank 
the  tea,  which  Russians  drink  at  all  hours, 
they  talked  of  the  circumstance. 

"  The  Emperor  was  delighted,"  said  the 


go  Michael  and  Theodora. 

Grand  Duchess  Olga.  "  No  doubt  that  is 
the  truth;  many  who  were  watching  saw 
the  tears  come  to  his  eyes.  Thanks  be  to 
God  for  so  good  a  Czar!  May  his  pres 
ence  always  enlighten  and  comfort  us  ! " 

"  You  should  have  seen  the  little  one's 
face,"  added  the  wife  of  a  rich  boyar. 
"I  was  behind  the  Czar,  and  therefore  I 
could  see  it.  The  face  was  wonderful. 
It  was  all  light.  Her  eyes  shone  like  two 
great  stars.  Her  lips  were  parted,  she 
stretched  out  her  hands,  and  when  they 
touched  the  Czar's  neck  he  stooped  down, 
and  —  it  is  the  truth  —  lie  kissed  her  !  Yes, 
indeed !  the  great  Czar  kissed  the  child." 

"  I  think,  indeed,  it  was  the  Czar  who 
kissed  the  child,"  said  another  noble  lady, 
"  though,  to  be  sure,  others  say  the  child 
had  the  noble  daring  to  kiss  first  the  lips 
of  the  Czar.  But  there  was  the  kiss  ! 
whichever  way  —  from,  or  to  —  there  it 
was!  About  the  kiss  itself,  there  could 
be  no  mistake." 


Michael  and  Theodora.  91 

"  And  I,"  said  the  Duchess  Sophia,  "  I, 
who  have  the  honor  to  be  in  waiting  on 
the  Empress,  I  know  that  she  also  was 
delighted.  The  Empress  also  kissed  the 
little  one,  and  there  were  tears  in  her 
eyes.  I  saw  them,  and  I  gave  to  the 
Empress  a  kerchief  that  she  might  dry 
them  away.  For,  to  be  sure,  the  Empress 
loved  the  child's  mother,  the  poor  Prin 
cess  Nadia." 

"That  is  quite  another  matter,"  said 
the  Countess  Vasil.  She  did  not  wish  to 
bring  into  discussion  the  affairs  of  her 
sister  —  her  wrongs  or  her  sufferings. 
Such  things  are  dangerous  to  talk  about; 
and  she  turned  suddenly  round  and  called 
Theodora  to  her  side. 

The  child  was  almost  frightened  at  the 
adulation  and  the  praises  she  received. 
She  had  done  nothing  at  all  but  thank 
the  good  Czar,  because  he  had  so  nobly 
and  publicly  justified  her  dear  father  and 
mother.  And  since  they  were  not  guilty, 


92  Michael  and  Theodora. 

surely  they  were  worthy  of  such  justice  ! 
Indeed,  her  childish  mind  had  been  specu 
lating  as  to  what  recompense  ought  to  be 
given  for  so  much  unmerited  shame  and 
suffering.  The  question  gave  a  troubled, 
thoughtful  air  to  her  young  face,  and  the 
Duchess  Olga  noticed  the  expression,  and 
told  her  she  must  no  longer  be  anxious. 

"  It  is  even  possible  that  the  Prince  and 
Princess,  your  father  and  mother,  are  free 
at  this  moment,  that  they  are  hastening 
to  clasp  you  in  their  arms.  Indeed,  as 
there  is  only  happiness  and  honor  before 
them,  little  one,  I  think  you  ought  to  be 
very  joyful.  Also,  you  know,  one  must 
always  be  gay  at  the  Christmas  feast.  It 
is  indeed  a  sin  to  let  our  faces  cast  a 
shadow  on  those  blessed  days.  Your 
angel  would  not  approve  of  it.  I  wish 
you  a  joyful  Christmas,  little  lady." 

And  now  Theodora  began  to  see  and  to 
hear  so  much  about  Christmas  that  she 
was  full  of  curiosity  and  expectation. 


Michael  and  Theodora.  93 

Mr.  Cecil  had  often  read  to  her  the  story 
of  the  Babe  of  Bethlehem,  and  it  had 
rested  on  her  mind  like  dawn  upon  the 
waters.  But  to  honor  Christ's  birthday, 
to  see,  to  feel,  to  share  in  its  joy,  that 
was  a  wonderful  thing  to  the  child !  She 
was  going  to  keep  her  first  Christmas 
feast!  She  was  full  of  the  joy  of  it! 
She  had  never  been  so  happy  in  her  life. 

And  it  really  seemed  to  be  a  different 
world,  every  one  was  so  good-natured,  so 
merry,  so  busy,  on  such  tiptoes  of  ex 
pectation  !  For  surely  the  river  of  life 
which  runs  past  Christmas  day  is  not  the 
same  river  which  runs  past  all  the  other 
days  of  the  year.  The  stir,  the  happy 
confusion,  the  very  possibility  that  her 
father  and  mother  might  arrive  during 
the  feast,  gave  a  sense  of  triumph  and 
exaltation  to  all  the  preparations. 

One  thing  only  troubled  the  happy 
family.  Nothing  had  been  heard  from 
Bazaroff.  Officers  of  justice  had  certainly 


94  Michael  and  Theodora. 

been  sent  there,  but  there  was  no  public 
information  as  to  how  their  errand  had 
been  performed,  no  word  from  Michael  or 
Mr.  Cecil.  And  Theodora  could  not  in 
duce  her  uncle  and  aunt  to  talk  about 
Prince  Sergius  and  Bazaroff.  Their 
silence  was  a  very  prudent  one,  for  in 
Russia  it  is  a  dangerous  thing  to  speak 
of  state  offences  ;  there  might  be  a  spy  in 
their  own  household,  their  words  might 
be  falsely  reported ;  no  matter  what  they 
felt,  Christmas  was  the  safest  of  all  sub 
jects  to  talk  about,  and  while  they  were 
keeping  the  great  feast,  affairs  more  per 
sonal  would  very  likely  be  righting  them 
selves. 

However,  the  night  before  the  Nativity 
there  came  a  messenger  from  Bazaroff. 
He  brought  a  letter  from  Mr.  Cecil, 
saying  that  Prince  Sergius  had  disap 
peared,  and  that  it  was  considered  best  for 
Michael  to  remain  at  Bazaroff. 

"  But     why  ? "     cried     Theodora.     "  I 


Micliacl  and  Theodora.  95 

thought  you  had  sent  for  Michael,  dear 
uncle !  I  do  not  want  to  keep  Christmas 
without  Michael  and  Mr.  Cecil  and  Ma- 
trina.  I  am  very  much  disappointed." 

"Michael  is  nobler  and  more  unselfish 
than  you  are,  Theodora,"  answered  the 
Count.  "  He  has  doubtless  considered  that 
your  father  and  mother  may  come  first  of 
all  to  Bazaroff,  and  that  they  will  indeed 
be  lonely  and  disappointed  if  there  is  no 
one  there  to  welcome  them  back  to  their 
home.  Indeed,  this  is  what  Michael  says: 
'  I  am  waiting  at  Bazaroff  to  meet  here 
my  father  and  mother,  and  this  is  my 
Christmas  joy,  dear  uncle.'  You  must 
remember,  Theodora, .  that  Prince  Sergius 
has  fled,  and  that  Mr.  Cecil  is  with  your 
brother.  The  sorrow  has  gone  away  from 
Bazaroff ;  they  will  be  very  happy  there. 
Indeed,  I  think  that  Michael  has  done 
exactly  right." 

"  And  Theodora,"  said  the  Countess, 
"  must  now  forget  everything  but  Christ- 


96  Michael  and  Theodora. 

mas  and  its  great  joy.  Come,  my  child,  it 
is  necessary  that  you  also  should  do  some 
thing  for  Christmas,  or  else  you  cannot 
expect  to  find  its  gladness  in  your  heart." 

There  was,  indeed,  a  great  deal  for 
every  one  to  do.  The  house  was  full  of 
servants,  but  they  needed  constant  direc 
tion,  for  they  were  more  disposed  to  enjoy 
the  feast  than  to  prepare  for  it.  The 
Countess  herself  gave  the  various  orders, 
and  Theodora  went  with  her  from  room 
to  room  as  the  illumination  was  prepared. 

For  when  the  night  began  to  fall  upon 
the  big  city,  it  put  on  its  festival  garments 
and  appearance.  The  chiming  of  bells, 
the  fanfare  of  trumpets,  the  happy  stir  of 
human  life  and  gladness,  enthused  the 
crowds  upon  the  public  streets,  and  every 
house  was  full  of  lights,  according  to  its 
size  and  ability.  In  Count  Vasil's  palace 
there  were  two  thousand  wax  candles 
burning,  and  whenever  one  servant  met 
another  they  said  to  each  other,  with  an 


He  taunted  the  children  with  their  parents'  degradation. 


Michael  and  Theodora.  97 

air  of  solemn  gladness,  "  God  with  us!" 
It  was  the  same  in  the  markets  and  the 
churches,  on  the  prospects  and  on  the 
highways,  around  the  poor  man's  stove,  or 
among  the  nobles  in  the  Emperor's  palace, 
every  one  had  the  same  glad  message  to 
give  his  fellow,  "  God  with  us  !  " 

The  Countess  Vasil  had  invited  forty 
youths  and  maidens  to  keep  Christmas 
with  Theodora,  and  as  soon  as  the  candles 
were  lighted  they  made  a  procession 
through  the  brilliant  rooms,  singing  all 
together  the  sweet  old  chant  of  "  Kolyda," 
which  is  the  song  of  the  Nativity:  — 

"Kolyda!    Kolyda! 
Kolyda  has  arrived ! 
On  the  eve  of  the  Nativity 
We  went  about,  we  sought 
Holy  Kolyda. 
We  found  Kolyda 
In  Peter's  court. 

Round  Peter's  court  there  is  an  iron  fence, 
In  the  midst  of  the  court 
There  are  three  rooms ; 
In  the  first  room  is  the  bright  moon ; 
In  the  second  room  is  the  red  sun ; 
In  the  third  room  the  many  stars." 


98  Micliacl  and   TJicodora. 

This  song,  though  now  consecrated  to 
Christmas,  was  once  the  song  of  the  sun 
god,  and  in  some  parts  of  Russia,  even  at 
this  day,  a  young  girl  dressed  to  repre 
sent  the  sun  is  driven  from  house  to 
house,  while  the  girls  attending  her  sing 
joyfully  the  "  Kolyadki." 

Theodora  and  her  companions  sang  it 
through  every  room  of  Count  Vasil's 
palace,  and  all  up  and  down  the  brill 
iantly  lighted  staircase,  and  a  very  pretty 
procession  the  forty  children  in  their  rich 
saraphans  made. 

"Indeed  they  look  like  a  band  of 
fairies,"  said  the  English  lady  who  was 
present. 

"  Have  you  ever  seen  a  fairy  ?  "  asked 
the  Countess  Vasil  ;  and  the  English  lady 
shook  her  head  and  answered,  — 

"  No ;  they  have  all  gone  away  from  Eng 
land.  It  is  said  they  were  frightened  by 
the  coming  of  mills  and  machinery,  and 
the  dreadful  shrieks  of  the  railway  engine." 


MicJiacl  and  Theodora.  99 

"  Ah,  no  !  "  said  Theodora,  with  such  a 
pretty  air  of  confidence,  "  that  was  not  the 
reason.  Mr.  Cecil,  who  is  a  very  learned 
man,  told  me  the  fairies  were  all  Roman 
Catholics,  and  that  when  England  became 
Protestant  they  very  quickly  left  the 
country.  By  this  we  may  know  — 

'  They  were  of  the  old  profession ; 
Their  songs  were  Ave  Maries  ; 
Their  dances  were  processions.' " 

Then  the  English  lady  laughed  merrily, 
and  the  Countess  said  it  was  Christmas, 
and  "  Kolyda "  was  a  house  song  for  every 
one>  Catholic  or  Protestant,  for  the  sun 
and  the  moon  represented  the  father  and 
the  mother  of  a  family,  and  the  stars  were 
the  little  children,  and  the  chorus  was 
only  a  wish  for  "  their  very  good  health." 

It  was  a  children's  Christmas  that 
Count  and  Countess  Vasil  intended  to 
keep  for  Theodora,  and  the  twenty  fair 
maidens,  and  the  youths  who  were  their 
"elected,"  spent  the  evening  in  singing, 


ioo  Michael  and  Theodora* 

in  games,  and  in  telling  each  other 
legends  and  stories  of  the  days  of  advent. 
And  when  all  the  fathers  and  mothers  of 
the  boys  and  girls  had  arrived,  then  they 
marched  through  the  house  again,  sing 
ing  joyfully,- 

"  Kolyda!  Kolyda! 
Kolyda  has  arrived ! 
Glory  to  God  in  heaven !   Glory !  " 

Then  the  children  sat  down  to  eat 
together,  and  to  plan  amusements  for  the 
holy  days  between  the  Nativity  and  the 
Epiphany ;  for  during  these  days  they 
were  to  be  "dear  companions."  And 
every  day  was  set  apart  for  something 
delightful  —  sleighing,  skating,  ball  play 
ing  in  the  court,  dancing  in  the  house, 
and,  above  all,  for  those  exquisite  singing 
games,  which  are  the  greatest  pleasure  of 
Russian  boys  and  girls. 

Theodora  was  enchanted.  She  re 
membered  the  sad  hours  of  the  previous 
Christmas,  when  Prince  Sergius  had  drunk 


Michael  and   Theodora.  101 

so  deeply,  and  scolded  so  furiously,  that 
every  one  else  in  Bazaroff  had  lived  in 
silence  and  terror.  This  happy  company, 
and  the  sense  of  perfect  love  around  her, 
made  her  weep  for  very  joy;  and  long 
after  the  other  children  had  gone  to  sleep, 
Theodora  lay  wide  awake,  full  of  grati 
tude,  and  of  a  sense  of  hope  and  expecta 
tion  that  would  not  permit  her  to  forget 
the  past. 

Very  early  on  Christmas  morning  the 
Countess  herself  came  into  the  great  rooms 
where  the  little  girls  slept.  "  Awake ! 
awake!"  she  cried;  "and  tell  me  now 
what  have  you  dreamt,  and  what  has 
appeared  to  you  in  your  sleep." 

And  as  they  rubbed  their  pretty 
drowsy  eyes,  and  began  all  to  talk  to 
gether,  the  babuschka,  an  old  woman 
who  in  every  house  waits  on  the  young 
girls,  brought  in  their  breakfasts.  Then 
their  own  nurses  and  maids  began  to 
come  in,  and  to  ask  how  they  were,  and 


IO2  MicJiael  and  Theodora. 

to    listen    to    their   dreams,    and   to  give 
and    to    take    messages    to   their   parents 
and    to    the  Countess    Vasil,    so  that  the 
breakfast    was    full     of    merry    interrup 
tions. 

After  being  dressed  they  went  to  the 
court,  where  they  passed  the  day  in  a 
game  of  snow-balling,  in  sleighing,  skat 
ing,  and  in  watching  the  arrival  of  very 
distinguished  guests  who  were  coming 
to  the  Christmas  dinner.  These  they 
delighted  to  greet  with  some  Kolyadki 
chant.  To  be  sure,  as  the  day  went  on, 
they  grew  a  little  wild  with  their 
pleasure;  but  the  great  Christmas  dinner, 
with  all  its  grand  company  and  formali 
ties,  easily  brought  them  back  to  their 
best  conduct  and  behavior. 

For  when  the  two  thousand  wax 
candles  were  again  lit,  the  rooms  were 
full  of  great  ladies  flashing  with  jewels, 
and  great  nobles  flashing  with  civil  and 
military  orders,  and  handsome  boys  in 


Michael  and  Theodora,  103 

their  rich  fur  pelisses  and  embroidered 
kaftans,  and  beautiful  girls  in  saraphans 
of  silk  and  gauze,  with  their  flowing  hair 
tied  back  with  rose-colored  ribbons.  And 
in  every  room  there  was  music,  and  in 
some  rooms  the  boys  and  girls  were  sing 
ing  to  it,  and  in  others  they  were  dan 
cing.  Such  joyful  groups !  Such  gor 
geous,  good-natured  ladies  and  gentlemen  ! 
All  giving  way  a  little  to  the  wishes  of 
the  children  at  this  time,  because  of  the 
Child  whose  birthday  they  were  keeping. 
Try  now  to  imagine  Count  Vasil's 
banqueting  hall  with  its  soft  lights,  its 
glad  music,  and  its  two  long  tables  bright 
with  gold  and  silver,  and  sweet  with 
many-colored  flowers.  One  table  was  for 
the  children,  and  the  other  for  the  nobles 
and  their  ladies.  The  Christmas  feast  is 
laid  on  both  tables,  the  rich  viands  are 
filling  the  air  with  delicious  aromas; 
but  before  any  one  may  taste  of  the  good 
things,  Count  Vasil  rises,  and  all  the 


IO4  Michael  and  Theodora. 

company  rise  with  him,  and  they  sing 
heartily  together  the  Christmas  song  that 
all  Russia  is  that  day  singing  from 
Poland  to  Siberia,  the  "  Song  of  the  Bread 
and  the  Salt'' :  — 


u  May  the  bread  and  the  salt,  ISlawa  !  (glory !) 
Live  a  thousand  years !     Slawa  I 
May  our  Emperor  live  still  longer !     Slawa  ! 
May  his  dear  children 
Ever  remain  faithful !     Slawa  I 
May  our  good  Emperor  never  grow  old  !    Slawa ! 
May  his  good  courser 
Never  be  tired !     Slawa  1 
May  his  shining  garments 
Ever  be  new !     Slawa  !  " 

Then  amid  rippling  waves  of  laughter 
and  conversation  the  feast  began;  and 
the  children,  of  course,  finished  their 
dinner  long  before  their  parents  and  the 
stately  company  who  sat  round  Count 
Vasil's  table.  For  these  guests  had  a  long 
menu  to  go  through ;  and  they  had 
" healths"  to  drii^k,  and  speeches  to  make, 
and  they  liked  to  do  all  these  things  very 
leisurely. 


Michael  and  Theodora,  105 

But  the  children  thought  it  would  be 
much  more  delightful  to  play  games  than 
to  sit  in  the  banqueting  hall,  where  they 
had  also  to  talk  with  propriety,  and  in  a 
voice  not  too  loud.  So  Theodora  looked 
at  her  aunt,  and  the  Countess  nodded  and 
smiled,  and  then,  without  hurry,  but  still 
very  gladly,  she  arose  from  the  table,  and 
the  children  followed  her  into  the  large 
room  which  had  been  appointed  for  the 
"Jewel  Game." 

An  old  woman  was  just  bringing  in  a 
deep  dish  half  full  of  clean  water.  She 
placed  it  upon  a  table,  which  was  covered 
with  a  clean  cloth.  Another  woman 
brought  in  bread  and  salt,  and  three 
pieces  of  charcoal.  Then  the  boys  and 
girls  stood  up,  and  removed  their  rings 
and  chains  and  bracelets,  and  walking  to 
the  bowl  they  dropped  them  into  it ; 
and  as  they  did  so,  they  chanted  again 
the  "Song  of  the  Bread  and  the  Salt," 
while  the  old  woman  stirred  the  jewels  in 


106  Michael  and  Theodora. 

the  clean  water,  and  covered  them  with  a 
napkin. 

Now  for  the  "  Jewel  Game "  there  are 
many  songs;  one  foretells  good  fortune; 
a  second,  a  journey;  a  third,  sickness; 
others  great  wealth,  high  honors,  good 
marriage,  many  misfortunes,  etc.,  etc., 
etc.  All  these  different  songs  are 
written  on  separate  cards,  and  the  old 
woman  who  presides,  while  she  lifts  a 
jewel  out  of  the  water,  draws  also  a 
card  fiom  the  pack.  Both  are  taken  at 
random,  and  without  any  plan  or  design, 
and  whatever  song  is  on  the  card  drawn 
is  sung  by  the  company.  Then  the 
jewel  which  has  been  lifted  to  it  is  ex 
amined,  and  the  song  sung  is  said  to 
be  prophetic  of  the  fate  of  the  owners 
of  the  jewel. 

If  the  jewel  be  a  ring,  or  a  bracelet, 
or  locket,  while  it  is  slipped  on  the 
finger,  or  clasped  round  the  arm  or  the 
throat,  all  the  company  sing  in  chorus,— 


Michael  and   Theodora.  107 

"  To  her  for  whom  we  have  suug  it, 
May  it  turn  good ; 
She  who  has  missed  it 
Must  do  without  it, — 
Must  do  without  it. 
This  cannot  fail." 

Many  of  the  youths  and  their  "fair 
companions"  had  their  fate  thus  pre 
dicted,  and  at  last  the  old  woman 
said,  — 

"  I  have  lifted  a  card.  I  have  taken 
a  jewel.  On  the  card  is  the  song  for 
a  happy  marriage.  Will  our  gracious 
Princess  Theodora  predict  it  ?  " 

Then  Theodora,  who  had  quickly  learnt 
all  the  songs,  began  to  chant.  Her  voice 
had  the  shrill  sweetness  of  girlhood,  and 
she  pronounced  the  words  very  clearly, 
which  in  itself  makes  singing  delight 
ful :— 

"  I  saw  a  sparrow-hawk 
Fly  from  one  lane, 
And  a  little  dove 
Fly  out  from  another ; 
They  flew  to  each  other, 
They  embraced  each  other ; 


io8  Michael  and  Theodora. 

Embraced  each  other 

With  their  light  blue  wings. 

And  the  people  wondered, 

The  people  marvelled, 

That  sparrow-hawk  and  dove 

Should  build  so  happily, 

So  happily  together.    Slawa."1 

And  to  be  sure  when  the  jewel  was 
uncovered,  it  was  found  to  be  the  brace 
let  of  Theodora,  and  her  companions 
clasped  it  round  her  arm,  singing  mer 
rily*  - 

"  To  her  for  whom  we  have  sung  it, 
May  it  turn  good ! 
She  who  has  missed  it, 
Must  do  without  it,  — 
Must  do  without  it, 
This  caunot  fail." 

As  the  last  jewel  was  a  ring,  the  old 
woman  rolled  it  along  the  floor,  and  the 
children  watched  its  course  with  great 
interest ;  for  if  it  is  the  ring  of  a  girl, 
and  it  rolls  to  the  door,  she  will  be  mar 
ried  very  early ;  and  if  it  is  the  ring 
of  a  youth,  then  he  is  sure  to  be  a  great 
traveller,  and  go  many  long  journeys. 


Michael  and  Theodora.  109 

And  every  one  laughed  and  clapped  their 
hands  when  the  ring  went  to  the  door 
and  was  found  to  be  the  ring  of  little 
Paul  Kieff,  who  was  going,  as  all  knew, 
to  Paris  as  soon  as  the  Epiphany  was 
over. 

On  the  following  night  they  danced  a 
little  while,  but  Theodora  liked  the  song- 
games  far  better ;  and  the  other  children 
also  said,  "  That  though  the  mazurka  was 
indeed  charming,  it  was  not  so  much  so 
as  the  'Burial  of  the  Gold.'" 

"  Come,  companions,  then,"  cried  Theo 
dora,  "  let  us  bury  the  gold  and  silver  !  " 
So  they  stood  in  a  circle,  and  they  placed 
Theodora  in  the  middle  of  the  circle,  and 
they  took  her  gold  ring  and  bid  her  find 
out  in  whose  hand  it  was,  as  they  passed 
it  from  one  to  the  other,  singing  as  they 
did  so,  — 

' '  See  here !    Gold  I  bury ! 
Silver  pure  I  bury ! 
In  the  rooms, 
The  rooms  of  my  father. 


no  Michael  and  Theodora. 

Rooms  so  high !  rooms  so  high 
Of  my  mother! 
Guess,  O  imiideii! 
Find  out,  pretty  one, 
Whose  hand  is  holding 
The  wings  of  the  serpent !  " 

Then  Theodora  sung  in  answer,  — 

"  Gladly  would  I  guess, 
Had  I  known, 
Had  I  seen, 
Crossing  the  plain, 
Plaiting  my  ruddy  brown  hair, 
Weaving  it  with  silk, 
Interlacing  it  with  gold; 
Oh !  my  dear  companions, 
Tell  me  the  truth ! 
Do  not  conceal  it, 
Give  me,  oh,  give  me, 
Give  me  back  my  gold !  " 

To    which    entreaty   the    circle    of    girls 
answered  thus,  — 

"  The  ring  has  fallen, 
The  ring  has  fallen, 
Among  the  Guelder  roses; 
Among  the  raspberries ; 
Among  the  black  currants ; 
Disappeared  has  the  gold, 
Hidden  away, 
Mere  dust, 
All  grown  over  with  moss !  " 


Micliacl  and  Theodora.  1 1 1 

And  though  these  songs  sound  only 
like  pretty  nonsense,  the  Russian  child 
knows  that  they  hold  a  meaning ;  that 
the  gold  ring  represents  the  sun,  hidden 
away  by  winter's  dark  clouds.  For  this 
game,  like  the  Saxon  one  of  "Hunt  the 
Slipper,"  and  many  other  kindred  ones 
of  other  nations,  was  doubtless  once  a 
solemn  emblematical  rite. 

According  to  Russian  traditions,  all 
kinds  of  hidden  treasures  may  be  re 
vealed  at  this  period  of  the  year,  in 
the  "holy  evenings"  between  the  Nativ 
ity  and  the  Epiphany.  "Many  wonder 
ful  things  happen  then,"  said  the  old 
woman,  "for  the  Christ  walks  upon  the 
earth,  and  gives  to  the  sorrowful  ones 
help  and  comfort,  and  to  the  wicked 
some  opportunity  to  repent. " 

"And  that  is  truly  so,"  said  little 
Elizabeth  Jelko,  in  a  solemn  voice.  "I 
know  that  it  is  so,  for  my  uncle  Volknoff 
was  once  a  great  miser.  And  on  the 


112  Michael  and  Theodora. 

sixth  holy  night  as  he  was  going  past  the 
church  of  St.  Basil  he  met  an  old  man, 
an  old,  old  man,  who  said  to  him,  — 

" '  Volknoff,  I  pray  thee  stay  for  Christ's 
sake,  and  give  me  a  copeck,  or  at  least  a 
morsel  of  bread.' 

"And  at  once  the  heart  of  my  uncle 
Volknoff  felt  pitiful,  and  he  said  softly, 
though  he  was  wont  to  speak  gruff  and 
cross,  'For  Christ's  sake,  then,  my 
brother,  take  then  this  silver  ruble.' 
And  instantly  the  beggar  was  gone ;  but 
Volknoff  saw  for  a  moment  a  face  like  an 
angel's,  and  he  knew  that  the  Christ  had 
spoken  to  him.  And,  indeed,  he  has  not 
loved  gold  more  than  Christ  since  that 
night ;  and  now,  also,  he  is  a  devout  wor 
shipper  at  the  church  of  St.  Basil." 

And  after  Elizabeth  had  spoken,  each 
girl  had  some  story  of  the  same  holy  time 
to  tell.  One  knew  of  a  very  cruel  noble 
who,  on  the  third  holy  night,  had  suddenly 
taken  pity  on  a  miserable  slave  child.  It 


Michael  and   Theodora.  113 

looked  at  him  only  as  he  passed  it,  and 
the  sorrowful  eyes  turned  the  master's 
hard  heart  to  tears ;  and  he  spoke  gently 
to  the  little  sufferer,  and  then  he  found 
he  had  spoken  to  the  Christ-child. 

"  Besides  which,"  said  Lucia  Smoloff, 
"  I  knew  a  man  who  was  going  on  his 
business  across  the  great  plain  of  the 
Volga.  It  was  on  the  eve  of  the  Epiph 
any,  and  he  was  a  very  good  man.  But 
as  he  drove  on  in  the  moonlight  he  was 
followed  by  a  pack  of  fierce  wolves ; 
and  he  gave  up  his  life,  for  they  were 
already  pulling  at  his  robes.  But  just 
then  what  happened?  A  stranger  came 
into  the  sledge,  and  he  said  to  the  hungry 
brutes,  '•Depart!'1  And  they  slunk 
silently  away,  and  the  man  cried  out, 
'•My  Christ!  it  is  thee,  then!" 

"  And  it  is  not  only  this  earth  that 
is  then  blessed,"  continued  little  Peter 
Rigoff.  "It  is  also  in  heaven  a  time  of 
great  happiness.  My  uncle,  who  is  a 


114  Michael  and  Theodora. 

patriarch,  told  me  that  even  in  heaven, 
during  these  holy  days,  there  are  great 
gifts  and  rejoicings.  The  doors  of  the 
radiant  realm  of  paradise,  in  which  the 
Son  dwells,  are  flung  wide  open,  new 
treasures  are  disclosed,  the  waters  turn  to 
wine,  the  trees  of  life  put  forth  fresh 
blossoms,  the  fruits  of  heaven  ripen  on 
the  boughs,  and  the  ministering  angels 
receive  new  gifts  for  the  children  of 
men." 

Thus  they  sat  talking  after  they  were 
wearied  with  their  games,  and  were  more 
sweetly,  solemnly  happy  than  any  laugh 
ter  or  dancing  could  make  them,  until 
their  servants  came  to  prepare  them  for 
sleep.  Then  they  went  away  to  holy 
dreams,  with  a  smile  for  each  other,  and 
M  little  prayer  to  the  Redeemer  in  every 
sinless  heart. 


VI. 

"  To  love  something  more  than  one's  self, 
that  is  the  secret  of  all  that  is  great.  To  know 
how  to  live  for  others,  that  is  the  aim  of  all  noble 
souls." 


little  children,  if  they  will 
take  the  trouble  to  observe,  may 
easily  see  how  different  a  thing  life  is  to 
every  single  human  being.  Not  even  to 
two  of  the  same  family  is  it  precisely  the 
same  ;  each  has  his  or  her  own  task  to 
learn,  or  duty  to  perform.  Thus  Michael 
and  Theodora,  though  the  children  of  the 
same  father  and  mother,  were  very  differ 
ently  situated  at  this  Christmas  tide. 

While  Theodora  was  being  caressed 
and  praised  beyond  her  understanding, 
while  she  was  surrounded  by  luxuries 
and  many  splendid  amusements,  little 
Michael  was  living  amid  hatred  and  un- 


1 1 6  Michael  and  Theodora. 

reasonable  anger,  and  obliged    to  endure 
the  deepest  sense  of  fear  and  anxiety. 

As  soon  as  Theodora  had  left  Bazaroff 
with  her  aunt,  there  was  an  access  of  all 
the  wretchedness  Michael  had  hitherto 
suffered.  Prince  Sergius  was  undoubtedly 
very  uneasy  about  the  loss  of  his  letter; 
and  his  sudden  appearances  in  the  school 
room,  and  his  unlooked-for  interruptions, 
showed  that  his  suspicions  were  on  the 
alert.  But  for  some  time  he  did  not 
speak  of  his  loss,  or  make  any  public 
effort  to  discover  the  missing  paper. 

He  did  not  remember  where  he  had 
last  handled  the  fateful  thing.  He  had 
been  so  furious  with  strong  brandy  and 
ungovernable  rage  that  he  had  no  distinct 
memory  as  to  the  time  or  place.  The 
only  particular  clear  to  him  was  the  fact 
that  he  had  put  it  into  an  inner  and 
separate  receptacle  of  his  leather  pocket- 
wallet  on  the  day  when  it  had  been  first 
brought  to  him. 


Michael  and  Theodora.  1 1 7 

Until  Kergoff's  visit  he  had  never  again 
looked  at  the  insolent  message.  He  was 
sure  of  that.  The  point  at  which  he 
wavered  was  a  very  important  one,  —  he 
could  not  remember  whether  he  had 
opened  this  special  receptacle  while  the 
man  was  with  him.  In  his  own  mind  he 
had  promised  to  give  Kergoff  a  lash  for 
every  word  if  ever  he  dared  to  put  his 
feet  within  the  great  gates  of  Bazaroff 
court.  But,  somehow,  Kergoff  had  been 
to  Bazaroff  and  had  bullied  him  out  of  a 
large  sum  of  money,  and  he  had  also  gone 
away  unpunished.  How  had  such  a  thing 
happened? 

"  I  must  have  been  drunk,  —  blind, 
and  deaf,  and  dumb  drunk,"  he  said  to 
his  own  angry  heart,  "because  I  am  not 
a  coward  when  I  am  sober.  And  if  I 
had  been  sober,  Kergoff  would  have 
tasted  the  knout  he  so  impudently  and 
unpardonably  promised  me,  —  promised 
Prince  Sergius  Bazaroff!  That  I  per- 


1 1 8  Michael  and  Theodora. 

mitted  such  insolence  to  go  unpunished 
is  incredible !  /  myself  was  from  home 
when  Kergoff  brought  his  detestable 
person  here,  that  is  certain.  But  the 
paper !  The  infamous  letter  he  sent ! 
What  did  I  do  with  it?" 

He  asked  himself  this  question  night 
and  day.  He  wandered  about  the  wood 
in  which  he  had  walked  with  Kergoff, 
looking  vainly  for  the  bit  of  white  paper 
on  the  waste  of  white  snow.  Finally 
he  set  every  serf  on  the  estate  to  hunt 
for  it.  "  It  was  a  note  promising  a  large 
sum  of  money,"  he  told  them,  "and  he 
would  give  freedom  to  whoever  found  it 
for  him." 

This  great  promise  sharpened  every 
eye,  but  no  one  could  find  at  Bazaroff 
what  was  already  at  St.  Petersburg,  and 
at  last  the  search  was  abandoned.  Every 
inch  of  ground  had  been  carefully  gone 
over,  and  though  here  and  there  scraps 
of  written  paper  had  been  found,  they 


Michael  and  Theodora.  119 

proved,  when  brought  to  the  Prince's 
notice,  utterly  worthless. 

The  whole  palace,  and  especially  the 
schoolroom,  was  subjected  to  the  samo 
radical  search.  Indeed  Mr.  Cecil,  having 
been  told  by  Prince  Sergius  that  the 
loss  regarded  a  large  sum  of  money,  de 
manded  a  strict  search  of  the  apartments 
he  occupied.  Sergius  protested  his  per 
fect  confidence  in  Mr.  Cecil's  integrity. 
He  said  he  would  not  subject  a  gentle 
man  to  such  an  indignity  ;  but  really  he 
did  suspect  Michael.  The  boy  had  bad 
parents.  He  was  a  bad  boy.  He  was 
sure  he  was  quite  capable  of  theft,  there 
fore  he  would  search  Michael's  room  and 
clothing. 

The  boy  submitted  to  this  indignity 
without  a  word.  He  was  afraid  if  he 
opened  his  mouth  he  would  receive  the 
lash ;  and  if  Prince  Sergius  degraded 
him  so  far,  he  knew  that  hi:?  heart  would 
break.  And  now  it  was  only  to  be 


I2O  Michael  and  Theodora. 

patient  a  little  longer,  a  few  more  days. 
So  he  stood  up,  pale  and  speechless, 
while  his  uncle  made  the  serfs  turn 
his  poor  belongings  over  and  over.  He 
said  not  a  word  when  the  clothes  he 
wore  were  stripped  from  him  and  exam 
ined  inch  by  inch.  He  was  silently  pray 
ing  for  patience  and  strength;  and  Mr. 
Cecil  stood  by  his  side,  and  warned  and 
supported  him  in  ways  unseen  and  unsus 
pected  by  his  tormentor.  Even  when  no 
trace  of  the  paper  was  discovered,  the 
Prince  found  it  impossible  to  dismiss  his 
fear  and  suspicion.  His  heart  told  him 
that  the  letter  had  been  found. 

Every  day  he  became  more  frantically 
brutal.  The  sharp,  never-to-be-mistaken 
sound  of  the  lash  cracked  upon  the  frosty 
air  every  day ;  and  the  cries  of  the  slaves, 
tortured  for  the  most  trifling  offences, 
made  Mr.  Cecil  and  Michael  sick  and 
dumb  with  terror.  Both  felt  that  they 
were  in  the  power  of  a  madman.  Several 


Michael  and  Theodora.  121 

times  they  fled  from  his  approach,  and 
remained  in  hiding  until  he  had  drunk 
himself  into  insensibility.  The  days  were 
terrible ;  the  nights  still  more  so ;  even 
Mr.  Cecil  wept  sometimes,  —  wept  with 
that  sad  impatience  which  feels  that  its 
misery  comes  from  the  neglect  of  those  it 
has  trusted. 

For  why  did  no  one  come  to  their 
relief?  Count  Vasil  must  know  that,  as 
soon  as  Prince  Sergius  discovered  the  loss 
of  the  letter,  their  lives  would  be  intoler 
able,  and  not  even  safe.  He  regretted 

now  that  he  had  not  gone  himself  with 
the  Countess  Vasil  back  to  St.  Peters 
burg.  He  would  have  moved  heaven  and 
earth  ere  this  for  Michael's  relief.  Theo 
dora  and  her  aunt  had  so  many  womanly 
pleasures!  They  would  not  hurry,  or 
press  the  matter. 

Then,  again,  they  assured  themselves 
of  Theodora's  love.  She  knew  all  they 
would  suffer.  Was  it  likely  she  would 


122  Michael  and  Theodora, 

take  any  pleasure  while  they  were  in 
mortal  peril?  Could  her  own  safety 
make  their  misery  to  be  forgotten  ?  No, 
no!  a  thousand  times  no!  Michael  was  as 
sure  of  his  sister's  love  and  fidelity  as  he 
was  of  his  own  existence. 

One  afternoon,  after  fifteen  days  of  this 
anxiety,  Mr.  Cecil  said  to  Michael,  "  My 
dear  boy,  we  must  try  and  escape.  Death 
is  better  than  such  a  life  of  terror.  I 
have  a  pair  of  pistols.  I  will  load  them 
well.  If  we  are  overtaken,  what  shall  I 
do,  Michael?" 

"  If  you  love  me,  dear  teacher,  slay 
me.  Suffer  them  not  to  touch  me.  My 
uncle  will  bring  me  back  and  flog  me  to 
death.  A  bullet  through  my  heart  will 
be  a  great  mercy." 

Mr.  Cecil  drew  the  child  to  his  breast 
and  wept  bitterly.  But  he  whispered, 
"  You  are  quite  right,  Michael.  We  can 
not  fall  into  the  hands  of  Prince  Sergius. 
It  will  be  far  better  to  trust  to  the  love 


Micliacl  and  Theodora.  123 

of  the  Merciful  One.  Still,  it  is  only  in 
extremity  that  we  must  dare  such  an  act. 
I  still  believe  that  God,  the  hearer  of 
prayer,  will  send  us  help." 

"But  if  it  comes  to  the  worst,  how 
shall  we  escape?  Without  a  swift  horse 
and  a  sledge,  the  idea  is  an  impossible 
one." 

"I  know.  Last  night,  after  you 
slept.  I  went  down-stairs.  Your  uncle 
Sergius  was  insensible ;  the  serfs  were 
sleeping  or  drinking ;  no  one  noticed 
me  as  I  passed  through  the  house  and 
went  to  the  stables.  It  is  true,  the  dogs 
growled,  but  I  spoke  to  them  and  they 
recognized  my  voice  and  were  satisfied. 
Your  uncle's  own  horse  and  sledge  will 
be  most  convenient.  The  sledge  is  an 
extremely  light  one ;  the  horses  are 
swifter  than  any  other  in  this  district." 

"  But  there  are  men  in  the  stables  all 
night  long?" 

"  There  were  two  hostlers  on  duty,  but 


124  MicJiael  and  Theodora. 

they  were  so  drunken  that  I  easily  filled 
two  bags  with  oats  and  hid  them  away; 
for  we  must  take  food  for  the  horses 
with  us,  as  we  shall  not  dare  to  stop  at  any 
inn  within  a  hundred  miles  of  Bazaroff ." 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  understand." 

"And  for  ourselves,  also,  I  have  put 
aside  some  bread  and  meat.  But  until 
it  is  surely  necessary  to  save  life,  we 
will  not  run  away:  if  that  pinch  comes 
then,  my  dear  Michael,  it  will  be  our 
duty  to  fly." 

"  All  seems  possible,  dear  teacher,  that 
you  have  planned,  if  the  servants  in  the 
stable  should  be  in  a  deep  sleep ;  but 
if  they  should  awaken,  what  then  ?  " 

"  I  alone  will  enter  the  stable.  If  the 
men  awake,  I  shall  say,  '  This  is  a  case  of 
life  and  death.  The  Prince  is  insensible. 
I  am  going  for  help.  Haste  with  the 
swiftest  horses  and  a  sledge.'" 

"The  men  may  go  at  once  to  Prince 
Sergius." 


Michael  and  Theodora.  125 

"We  shall  not  leave  until  the  Prince 
is  unconscious ;  and  when  he  does  awa 
ken,  they  will  fear  to  be  the  first  to  tell 
him.  They  will  hesitate  and  consult  and 
lose  much  time." 

"  Then,  perhaps,  the  poor  men  may 
suffer  in  our  place." 

"  I  am  glad  you  thought  of  that  pos 
sibility,  Michael.  It  shows  you  have  a 
kind  and  considerate  heart.  I  have  also 
thought  of  that  likelihood  and  made  some 
inquiries.  The  men  will  not  suffer.  It 
is  the  habit  of  the  servants  to  excuse  all 
their  faults  by  asserting  that  they  came  to 
Prince  Sergius  about  any  wrong  matter, 
and  that  they  found  him  too  '  busy  '  to 
listen  to  their  information,  or  to  give  them 
any  orders.  And  the  Prince  knows  that 
'  busy '  is  a  considerate  way  of  saying 
'  drunk,'  and  he  is  prudent  enough  to 
reflect  that  the  estate  would  soon  be  in 
chaos  if  he  punished  the  servants  for  his 
own  drunkenness." 


126  Michael  and  TJieodora. 

"I  wish,  then,  that  God  would  visit  us 
here,  or  even  one  of  the  least  of  his  holy 
angels.  Why  does  not  help  come  ?  Has 
God  forgotten  to  be  gracious?  I  think 
that  this  house  is  like  hell.  Perhaps, 
indeed,  no  good  angel  can  enter  it." 

"Though  we  make  our  bed  in  hell, 
even  there  God  is  with  us ;  and  thou 
knowest,  Michael,  that  in  the  valley  of 
the  shadow  of  death  he  has  promised  to 
comfort  us.  It  is  true,  I  have  been  talk 
ing  to  thee,  poor  little  one,  of  running 
away;  but  indeed  I  surely  think  the  God 
of  salvation  will  visit  us  here." 

Then  there  fell  a  great  silence  between 
them.  It  was  snowing  heavily  outside, 
and  it  was  dreary  and  chill  beyond  ex 
pression  within  the  large  desolate  dwell 
ing.  Suddenly  there  was  a  faint,  un 
usual  noise, —  the  noise  of  a  far-off  sledge, 
and  the  soft  tinkle  of  the  bells,  and  the 
beat  of  the  horse's  feet  on  the  frozen 
snow,  came  nearer  and  nearer.  Michael 


Michael  and  Theodora.  127 

rose  and  went  to  one  of  the  windows 
overlooking  the  court.  The  vehicle  was 
just  entering  the  gate.  He  turned  like  a 
flash  and  touched  the  master,  who  was 
bending  disconsolately  over  the  stove. 

"Master!  Master!  Here  is  Matrina 
at  last!  Thank  God!" 

"Thank  God,  Michael!  Remember, 
my  boy,  what  Matrina's  simple  presence 
here  means.  It  means  that  the  letter  is 
delivered ;  that  all  is  well ;  that  God 
has  visited  us  in  our  affliction !  When 
did  he  ever  break  his  promise?  When 
did  he  ever  forsake  those  who  trust  in 
him?  Jehovah  is  a  very  present  help  in 
time  of  trouble." 

He  kept  softly  repeating  such  blessed 
promises,  and  Michael's  heart  echoed 
them,  but  further  they  could  not  talk. 
They  had  passed  beyond  speech.  They 
were  listening  and  waiting ;  and  hour 
after  hour  went  by  and  there  was  no 
change.  Michael's  face  settled  hopelessly. 


128  Michael  and  Theodora. 

"  I  have  been  mistaken,"  he  said.  "  I 
will  go  to  bed.  To  sleep  a  little  while 
and  to  forget,  that  is  all  now  possible." 

He  was  interrupted  by  the  faint  echo 
of  a  voice  singing.  The  sound  was  un 
usual  ;  the  voice  was  Matrina's.  She  was 
singing  to  let  them  know  of  her  pres 
ence.  But  ere  they  could  certainly  say, 
"  It  is  Matrina  singing,"  they  heard 
Prince  Sergius  speak  in  an  angry  tone. 
A  door  was  violently  closed,  and  the 
singing  ceased. 

" Nevertheless,  it  is  Matrina"  said  Mr. 
Cecil.  "  Go  to  bed,  my  dear  Michael.  I 
will  watch  for  her  visit.  She  will  come 
when  Prince  Sergius  has  lost  the  power 
to  prevent  her  coming." 

Mr.  Cecil  was  right.  Towards  the  mid 
night  Matrina  softly  opened  the  school 
room  door.  Her  face  spoke  the  glad 
tidings  before  her  tongue.  Mr.  Cecil 
called  Michael  very  softly,  and  the  boy 
came.  Matrina  took  him  in  her  arms. 


Michael  and  Theodora.  129 

"  We  are  all  saved,  my  Prince  !  "  she 
said.  "  The  letter  has  been  read  by  the 
Czar  himself.  The  ukase  making  the  most 
noble  Prince  Ivan  a  grand  marshal  of  the 
Empire  is  given  already,  and  the  officers 
of  justice  to  arrest  Prince  Sergius  follow 
quickly  in  my  footsteps.  A  few  days  — 
even  a  few  hours  —  and  the  trouble  will 
have  gone  away  forever  !  " 

She  spoke  rapidly,  throwing  her  hands 
downward  with  every  word ;  and  her  face, 
though  but  the  flat,  plain  face  of  a  Rus 
sian  peasant,  was  irradiated  with  a  great 
light  from  her  rejoicing  heart. 

"Why  have  you  kept  us  waiting  so 
long,  Matrina  ?  To-night  I  went  to  bed 
broken-hearted." 

"  Ah,  my  little  one,  could  I  help  it  ? 
Prince  Sergius,  having  read  the  letter 
which  I  brought  from  Count  Vasil,  sud 
denly  turned  very  suspicious.  'It  is  a 
little  thing  the  Count  sends  you  back 
for,'  he  said,  with  a  frown.  *  Is  this  all  ? 


130          Michael  and  Theodora. 

Speak  thou  and  speak  the  truth,  or  the 
lash  shall  whip  it  out  of  thee.' '' 

"  How  did  you  then  pacify  him  ?  " 

"  I  said,  '  It  is  not  quite  all,  my  Prince. 
I  was  very  miserable  in  the  great  city. 
I  wished  to  come  back  to  my  companions. 
The  Count  Vasil  said  there  was  a  call 
for  the  papers,  and  it  would  be  well  for 
you  to  prepare  them.' '' 

" '  But  then,'  he  asked,  '  why  a  call 
now,  after  all  these  years?  It  is  most 
unlikely.'  Then  he  questioned  me  very 
sharply  about  the  lost  letter,  and  I  was 
afraid." 

"O  Matrina!  You  surely  did  not 
tell?" 

"  How  could  you  think  it  possible  ? 
No,  no!  I  declared  most  truly  that  I 
saw  no  such  paper  at  Bazaroff.  He 
asked  me  if  the  Countess  Vasil  was  his 
enemy,  and  I  answered  that  in  my  pres 
ence  she  had  not  spoken  of  him,  either 
good  or  bad.  But  he  is  uneasy,  and  he 


MicJiacl  and  Theodora.  131 

has  been  drinking  hard.  In  the  morning 
he  will  be  a  monster ;  there  is  no  doubt 
of  that." 

"  But,"  said  Mr.  Cecil,  "  there  are  ten 
hours  ere  he  will  come  to  himself,  and  in 
ten  hours  God  may  bring  many  good 
things  to  pass.  While  we  are  sleeping, 
those  who  are  appointed  to  come  will 
come  swiftly." 

And  Matrina  answered,  "  I  will  now 
go  away,  because  my  orders  from  Prince 
Sergius  were  strict  in  this  matter.  He 
said,  '  If  thou  but  speak  to  the  boy 
Michael,  or  give  him  the  least  sign  or 
message,  I  will  make  thee  to  weep  for  it 
to  thy  dying  day.'  See,  then,  in  what 
danger  I  am." 

So  Matrina  went  away,  and  Michael 
and  Mr.  Cecil  put  out  the  solitary  candle 
and  sat  in  the  dark,  whispering  comfort  to 
each  other.  They  could  not  sleep,  their 
hearts  were  so  full  of  hopes  and  of  fears. 
They  could  not  help  speculating  as  to 


132  Michael  and  Theodora. 

what  Prince  Sergius  would  do  when 
he  was  arrested.  They  tried  to  make 
some  plan  to  be  out  of  his  way,  for  they 
knew  well  it  would  be  a  most  critical 
moment. 

And  that  night  Prince  Sergius  could 
not  sleep  either.  He  had  been  taken  to 
his  bed  by  his  serfs  when  he  was  no 
longer  sensible  enough  to  resist  them ; 
and  they  had  left  him  alone  to  sleep  off 
his  debauch.  About  ten  the  next  morn 
ing  they  supposed  he  would  open  his 
heavy  red  eyes  and  call  for  brandy  and 
coffee.  But  long  before  that  hour,  in  the 
bitter  chill  and  deep  darkness  which  pre 
cedes  the  dawn,  Prince  Sergius  awoke  in 
a  great  terror, —  a  terror  so  great  that  it 
quite  sobered  him.  He  was  in  a  sweat  of 
agony,  and  he  cowered  among  the  bed 
clothes  like  a  frightened  child.  He  rung 
bell  after  bell  with  a  frenzied  force,  and 
he  called  every  servant  in  the  palace.  He 
wanted  light  and  company.  He  wanted, 


Michael  and  Theodora.  133 

his  servants  to  talk  to  him,  and  they  were 
afraid.  Then  he  sent  for  Mr.  Cecil. 

"  I  am  a  fool,  sir,"  he  said,  with  a 
forced  laugh.  "  I  have  had  a  dream  —  a 
very  bad  dream  !  It  has  terrified  me.  I 
know  not  what  to  think  of  it ;  I  have 
been  drinking  very  hard,  I  suppose  ?  " 

'•  You  have  been  drinking  very  hard 
indeed,  Prince,"  Mr.  Cecil  answered. 

"  But  why  should  I  be  afraid  of  a 
dream  ?  It  is  indeed  folly." 

"  Sometimes  the  Great  and  Holy  One 
speaks  to  the  children  of  men  in  dreams. 
If  he  speaks,  then  even  the  kings  of  the 
earth  tremble.  What  did  you  dream  ?  " 

"  I  cannot  tell  you  —  a  dream  of  horror 
—  of  evil  for  evil  —  of  death  without 
mercy.  I  cannot  rid  myself  of  it  —  I  can 
not  drink  it  away  —  I  am  afraid  to  drink. 
Something  is  going  to  happen.  Mr.  Cecil, 
I  have  always  been  kind  to  you?" 

"  Yes,  Prince." 

"Then    do    not   leave     me.       What   is 


134          Michael  and  Theodora. 

coming  to  me?  Is  it  death?  If  I  am 
sick,  send  to  Moscow  for  a  physician. 
Spare  no  expense.  Care  for  me  with 
your  own  hands.  I  can  trust  you.  When 
I  am  well,  I  will  make  you  rich.  I  swear 
it !  But  it  is  not  sickness  —  it  is  —  Oh, 
Mr.  Cecil,  what  is  it?" 

"  I  know  not,  Prince." 

"  And  I  know  not  —  some  nameless 
terror.  I  wonder  if  it  be  possible  to  fly 
from  it!  I  will  go  to  Moscow,  to  St. 
Petersburg." 

Then  he  became  silent,  and  walked  up 
and  down  the  room  in  an  agony  of  appre 
hension.  Frequently  he  glanced  behind 
himself  as  if  he  was  followed,  as  indeed 
he  was,  by  the  memories  of  his  many 
crimes.  He  did  not  talk  to  Mr.  Cecil,  yet 
he  begged  him  to  stay  by  his  side. 

At  length  the  dawn  came,  gray  and 
misty,  with  the  promise  of  much  snow  in 
its  damp,  depressing  atmosphere.  The 
servants  made  breakfast  and  brought  it 


Michael  and  Theodora.  135 

in  while  yet  it  was  candlelight.  Prince 
Sergius  eat  like  a  man  in  a  hurry,  or 
going  on  a  long  journey,  as  he  really  was, 
though  as  yet  he  did  not  know,  he  only 
felt,  the  fate  before  him. 

But  as  the  daylight  came,  and  with  it 
the  quite  usual  snow,  and  all  the  customary 
duties  and  occupations  of  the  day,  the 
miserable  Prince  began  to  throw  off  the 
appalling  influence  of  the  night  terrors. 
He  sent  for  his  servants  and  bullied  one, 
and  punished  another,  and  sent  some  here 
and  some  there,  and  finally  gave  the  word 
for  Matrina  to  come  to  him. 

"  Thou  wilt  go  back  to  St.  Petersburg 
to-day.  I  will  get  the  papers  wanted  for 
thee  to  carry.  Dost  hear  ?  " 

"  Pardon,  great  Prince  !  Let  some  other 
be  sent.  I  beg  thee  that  I  may  stay  here 
with  my  old,  dear  companions." 

"  I  thought  that  thy  young  mistress 
was  the  world  and  its  fulness  to  thee. 
How  is  this,  then?" 


136  Michael  and  Theodora. 

"  My  young  Princess  has  now  many 
friends  and  many  new  servants.  What 
am  I  when  there  are  so  many  ?  I  pray 
thee,  Prince,  that  I  may  remain  at  Baza- 
roff." 

He  seemed  much  pleased  at  her  re 
quest,  and  granted  it.  Then  he  went  to 
his  secretary  and  began  to  arrange  the 
papers  to  be  sent  to  Count  Vasil,  and  Mr. 
Cecil  perceived  that  he  might  now  obtain 
permission  to  go  to  his  own  duties. 

Michael  was  dressed  and  had  an  air  of 
expectation.  "I  am  sure  that  something 
is  going  to  happen,  dear  master,"  he  said. 
"This  morning  I  am  not  able  to  study. 
I  must  sit  still  and  watch." 

And,  oh!  how  long  are  hours  that  are 
watched  away.  Tick-tick  went  the  dreary 
old  inexorable  clock.  It  would  not  hurry 
for  Michael's  feverish  anxiety.  Hour 
after  hour  of  the  common,  every-day  life ! 
Nine  o'clock  !  Ten  o'clock  !  Eleven ! 
And  as  eleven  struck,  a  man  driving  for 


Michael  and  Theodora.  137 

life  or  death  came  into  sight,  a  black  spot 
on  the  far  horizon.  Michael  stood  up 
breathless.  The  sledge  came  nearer  and 
nearer.  '•'•Open!  Open!  Open!'1''  its  occu 
pant  cried  as  he  approached  the  gates. 
Once  in  the  court  he  gasped  the  name  of 
Prince  Sergius,  and  with  his  last  strength 
dropped  a  letter  at  his  feet. 

The  letter  was  from  Alexander  Kergoff. 
After  betraying  his  confederates,  he  asked 
permission  to  communicate  with  Prince 
Sergius  Bazaroff.  The  authorities  were 
doubtless  aware  of  his  purpose,  but  they 
were  not  averse  to  the  sending  of  the 
"warning"  which  it  was  evident  Kergoff 
intended.  The  prosecution  of  Sergius 
Bazaroff  would  involve  other  nobles  of 
high  rank.  It  was  hoped  by  many  of 
the  officials  that  Sergius  would  "exile 
himself,"  and  spare  other  great  families 
their  share  of  the  Emperor's  wrath.  So 
Kergoff  was  permitted  to  write  to  his 
colleague,  and  the  letter  dropped  at  the 


138  Micliacl  and  Theodora. 

feet  of  Sergius  Bazaroff  was  the  message 
sent : — 

Friend  Sergius  Bazaroff: 

We  are  discovered,  and  thou  wilt  have 
the  price  to  pay.  Had  thou  been  less 
saving  of  thy  gold,  thou  might  have 
saved  thy  life.  Thy  brother,  Prince  Ivan, 
is  free ;  is  made  a  grand  marshal,  and  is 
.placed  near  the  Emperor's  person.  The 
little  girl  did  it  all.  The  letter  I  wrote 
thee  she  found  and  gave  to  Count  Vasil, 
and  so  on  till  it  came  to  the  Czar's  own 
hand.  Very  well,  thou  wilt  pay  now  far 
more  than  the  two  thousand  rubles  I 
asked  of  thee ;  thou  wilt  pay  in  blood 
and  in  life  drops.  Still,  I  and  thee  have 
drank  many  a  night  away  together ;  thou 
art  a  comrade,  and  so  I  say  unto  thee, 
Fly!  Fly  for  thy  life!  Fly  to  escape 
the  knout !  Fly  from  worse  than  death  ! 
As  for  me,  I  shall  doubtless  go  to  prison, 
and  it  is  all  thine  own  fault. 

ALEXANDER  KERGOFF. 


Michael  and  Theodora,  139 

This  was  the  terror  he  had  dreamed 
about  —  that  his  soul  apprehended  — 
whose  coming  had  cast  such  shadows  of 
dread  and  horror  before  it.  Prince  Ser- 
gius,  for  once,  found  no  words  for  his 
passion.  He  stamped,  and  foamed  at 
the  mouth,  and  ordered  his  sledge  in  a 
scarcely  articulate  shout.  And  then,  in 
bounding  leaps,  like  the  running  of  a  wild 
animal,  he  flew  up  the  staircase  to  the 
schoolroom. 


VII. 

"  He  releaseth  the  prisoners.  He  giveth  glad- 
Bess  of  heart." 

"For  the  Lord  knoweth  all  them  that  sin 
against  him,  and  therefore  delivereth  he  them 
unto  death  and  destruction." 

TT  was  the  eve  of  the  Epiphany,  and 
A  the  Christmas  festivities  in  Count 
Vasil's  house  were  nearly  over.  On  the 
morrow  the  forty  "dear  companions" 
were  to  separate,  and  they  were  already 
exchanging  trinkets,  and  locks  of  hair, 
and  promises  of  remembrance^  Perhaps 
in  each  young  heart  there  was  a  little  of 
that  sadness  which  comes  after  joy  that  is 
long  continued. 

Theodora  was  also  a  little  disappointed. 
She  had  fully  believed  that  in  one  of  the 
"holy  evenings"  between  Christmas  and 
Epiphany  her  parents  would  certainly 


MicJiacl  and  Theodora.  141 

arrive.  So,  amid  all  her  happiness,  she 
was  constantly  thinking  of  a  still  greater 
happiness  coming  to  her;  and  it  had  not 
come. 

"  It  takes  such  a  long  time  for  a  good 
thing  to  arrive,"  she  said  to  her  aunt.  "  I 
am  so  much  disappointed,  aunt.  Here  is 
the  eve  of  the  Epiphany,  and  to-morrow  it 
will  be  only  the  common  world  again." 

"  To  be  sure,  that  is  the  truth,"  answered 
the  Countess.  "I,  too,  am  a  little  disap 
pointed,  and  also  a  little  weary.  But 
then  we  must  not  get  neglectful  at  the 
last.  And  here  are  the  stars.  We  must 
go  out  to  welcome  the  Epiphany  stars." 

"Here  are  the  stars,"  cried  Theodora. 
"  Here  they  come !  With  such  a  holy  air 
they  come,  one  by  one,  into  the  calm  sky." 

Then  the  Countess  rose  and  went  into 
a  room  where  the  children  were  sitting 
telling  stories  to  one  another,  and  she 
cried,  — 

"  Children,  here  are  the  Epiphany  stars, 


142  Michael  and  Theodora. 

and  no  little  girls  to  greet  them!  Fie! 
Fie  !  This  is  a  neglect  not  to  be  excused 
by  many  words." 

Then  there  was  a  calling  aloud,  and  a 
running  about  for  maids,  and  pelisses,  and 
muffs,  and  caps,  and  very  soon  the  whole 
forty  children  were  standing  together 
in  the  open  court,  singing  the  parting 
song :  — 

"O  stars!  stars! 
Dear  little  stars ! 
All  ye,  O  stars ! 
Are  the  fair  children, 
Ruddy  and  white, 
Of  one  mother. 

Send  forth  through  the  christened  world, 
Dispensers  of  happiness ! " 

And  as  they  were  solemnly  and  happily 
singing,  some  one  called  for  Theodora  in 
an  eager,  startled  voice.  She  stood  silent 
a  moment,  and  then  fled  into  the  house. 
There  was  a  tall  man  in  the  hall,  covered 
with  furs,  and  Count  Vasil  was  kissing 
his  cheeks  and  shaking  both  his  hands; 
and,  also,  there  was  a  lady  lying  back  in 


Michael  and  Theodora.  143 

a  large  chair,  and  the  Countess  Vasil  was 
chafing  her  hands  and  crying  over  her, 
and  the  moment  Theodora  saw  the  white, 
sweet  face  lying  on  the  black  fox  furs, 
she  knew  it  was  her  mother's  face,  and  she 
flew  to  her  with  outspread  arms,  crying 
out,  "Mother!  mother!  Oh,  my  dear 
mother ! " 

She  was  in  her  father's  arms  at  last. 
She  was  folded  to  her  mother's  heart. 
She  was  kissed  and  fondled  with  all  those 
sweet  pet  names  that  good  girls  love ; 
but  far  more  joyful  was  it  to  hear  father 
call  her  their  "deliverer,"  their  "good 
angel,"  their  "blessed  daughter"!  And 
that  night  Theodora  did  not  remain  with 
her  dear  companions ;  she  was  with  her 
parents.  But  they  all  rejoiced  with  her, 
and  were  glad  because  of  so  happy  a 
reason  for  her  absence.  Ere  they  went 
to  bed,  Maria  Stromnow  made  up  a  song 
of  thanksgiving  to  God  and  the  Czar; 
and  they  sang  it  before  the  door  of  the 


144          Michael  and   Theodora. 

Princess  Nadia.  It  was  a  very  pretty 
song,  and  every  line  ended  with  the 
Russian  cry  of  "  Slaw >a!"  which  means 
"  glory !  "  And  the  Princess  Nadia  was 
much  pleased  and  affected  when  she  heard 
the  sweet,  shrill  voices  of  the  forty  children 
singing  praise  and  thanksgiving  for  her 
return  to  her  home,  and  friends,  and 
freedom. 

At  first  there  was  so  much  to  say  that 
nothing  was  quite  certain.  Every  ques 
tion  and  answer  was  confused  by  their 
irrepressible  exclamations  of  gratitude  to 
God  and  love  towards  each  other.  But 
at  length,  when  they  had  eaten  together 
and  were  calmer,  they  began  to  talk  of 
the  great  event  which  had  brought 
about  the  restoration  of  Prince  Ivan,  and 
the  justification  of  his  loyalty  and  honor. 
Neither  the  Prince  nor  Princess  had  heard 
the  particulars,  and  Theodora,  sitting  on 
her  father's  knee,  and  clasped  by  his  arm, 
told  again  every  event  of  that  fateful 


Michael  and  Theodora. 

day,  when  Kergoff  had  bullied  Prince 
Sergius,  and  the  latter,  in  the  delirium  of 
his  rage  and  drunkenness,  had  lost  the 
letter  which  Michael  found. 

"  So  you  see  it  was  Michael,  after  all, 
whom  God  chose,  dear  father  and  mother. 
It  was  to  Michael,  God  sent  the  white 
paper." 

"  The  white  paper  which  opened  the 
prison  doors  for  your  mother  and  I,  Theo 
dora  !  And  then  consider,  my  child,  how 
the  kind,  wise  God  made  all  things  work 
together ;  for  the  paper  might  still  have 
been  in  Mr.  Cecil's  collar  had  not  our 
dear  sister,  the  Countess  Vasil,  just  at 
that  very  time  sought  and  received  the 
Czar's  permission  to  take  charge  of  your 
education.  Then,  again,  consider  how 
useless  the  paper  would  have  been  even  in 
St.  Petersburg,  if  it  had  not  fallen  into 
such  wise,  brave  hands  —  the  hands  of 
your  dear  uncle  Vasil,  for  they  rested  not 
until  they  had  passed  the  mighty  piece  of 


146  Michael  and  Theodora. 

white  paper  into  the  mighty  hands  of  the 
great  Czar.  It  is  all  the  Lord's  doing !  It 
is  altogether  wonderful !  Slawa  !  Slawa  !  " 

Then  the  Princess  Nadia  raised  herself 
suddenly  from  her  couch  and  said,  "But 
Michael  ?  We  must  hasten  to  Michael ! 
Tell  us  what  you  have  heard  of  our  good 
son.  And  what  news  is  there  from 
Bazaroff?  Who  has  been  to  tell  of  the 
arrest  of  that  base  wretch,  Sergius  Baza 
roff?  Surely,  ere  this  hour,  he  is  in  the 
hands  of  the  men  appointed  to  punish 
such  miserable  ingrates  !  " 

"We  have  no  news  of  importance  from 
Bazaroff,"  answered  the  Count.  "  We 
expected  you  to  return  by  that  route  and 
to  call  there.  Indeed,  Michael  and  Mr. 
Cecil  were  confidently  looking  for  you, 
and  for  this  reason  they  declined  our 
invitation  to  come  to  us.  'How  sad  would 
be  my  parents'  return  to  their  home  if 
there  was  no  one  to  welcome  them!  I 
will,  therefore,  remain  to  meet  them,  and 


MicJiacl  and   Theodora.  147 

this  will  be  my  Christmas  joy.'  It  was 
thus  and  likewise  Mr.  Cecil  wrote  for 
Michael  and  for  himself,  and  since  that 
letter  we  have  heard  nothing  at  all  cer 
tain.  But  then,  as  every  one  is  aware, 
no  news  is  the  best  of  all  news :  for  if 
there  was  any  misfortune  it  would  have 
brought  its  own  tidings,  quick  as  a  bird 
flies." 

"  But  surely  Sergius  is  not  yet  there ! " 
cried  Prince  Ivan.  "  Surely  our  Michael 
is  not  yet  in  the  power  of  one  so  false 
and  so  cruel !  " 

"Ivan,"  cried  the  Princess,  "we  must 
go  at  once.  There  must  not  be  a  mo 
ment's  delay.  Who  knows  what  torture 
our  dear  boy  is  suffering?" 

"Sergius  has  fled,"  said  Count  Vasil. 
"  That  much  is  certainly  known.  But  in 
deed  I  am  astonished  that  you  came  not 
by  Bazaroff." 

"•  We  thought  it  best  to  come  direct  to 
our  Emperor.  We  will  not  sneak  home 


148  Michael  and  Theodora. 

as  to  a  hiding  place.  I  said  to  Nadia, '  We 
will  go  first  of  all  to  St.  Petersburg,  and 
cast  ourselves  at  the  Czar's  feet.  We  will 
show  him  that,  in  spite  of  our  wrongs  and 
our  sufferings,  we  come  first  of  all  to  him, 
whom  we  never  were  faithless  to  —  no, 
not  by  a  thought.'  " 

"  That  was  a  very  wise  thing  to  do," 
said  Count  Vasil.  "  You  did  exactly 
right.  To-morrow  you  can  offer  your 
homage,  and  then  whatever  there  is  to  be 
known,  that  you  will  be  told," 

And  the  Princess  Nadia,  being  exceed 
ingly  weary,  was  thankful  for  a  day's  rest. 
If  Sergius  had  fled,  and  Michael  had  the 
care  and  company  of  Mr.  Cecil,  the  boy 
was  not  either  in  sorrow  or  danger. 
"  God  has  been  so  good,"  she  said,  "  as  to 
so  arrange  matters  that  my  dear  daughter 
is  at  my  side ;  therefore,  I  can  wait  pa 
tiently  until  the  Prince  has  expressed  his 
loyalty,  and  done  those  things  which  are 
necessary  to  his  new  position." 


Michael  and   Theodora.  149 

But  a  swift  messenger  was  sent  to  Baz- 
aroff  with  the  glad  tidings  of  the  return 
of  the  exiles,  and  the  promise  that  in  a 
few  days  they  would  follow  their  letter ; 
and.  in  the  mean  time,  Michael  was  to 
assure  himself  that  all  was  well  for  the 
future.  And  this  messenger  was  well 
sent,  because  it  was  nearly  a  week  before 
they  could  prudently  start  for  Bazaroff. 
Many  things  relating  to  Prince  Ivan's 
great  office  had  to  be  attended  to,  and  the 
Princess  Nadia  soon  discovered  that  she 
was  destitute  of  civilized  clothing,  and 
also  of  many  other  things  necessary  to 
her  welfare  and  comfort.  It  is  true  she 
would  not  have  thought  of  these  things 
if  there  had  not  been  the  imperative  duty 
of  delay  in  regard  to  the  public  affairs  of 
Prince  Ivan ;  but  as  the  delay  was  neces 
sary,  she  did  all  that  was  possible  to 
improve  the  time. 

And  Theodora,  who  had  become  quite 
familiar  with  the  great  city,  and  with  the 


150  Michael  and  Tkcodora. 

fashions  of  it,  was  delighted  to  accom 
pany  her  dear  mother  and  aunt  to  the 
magazines  of  silks  and  laces  and  fine 
linens.  She  would  scarcely  loosen  her 
clasp  from  her  mother's  hand.  It  seemed 
yet  such  an  impossible  joy  that  she 
feared  to  awaken  as  from  a  dream  and 
find  herself  "  motherless "  once  more. 
Little  girls  will  understand  how  happy 
Theodora  was  in  this  new  companionship; 
and  yet  how  she  feared  it  might  in  some 
way  be  again  taken  from  her. 

After  all,  she  was  delighted  when, 
at  last,  one  clear  cold  morning  they 
started  in  high  spirits  for  Bazaroff. 
The  Prince  and  Princess  were  in  a 
handsome  sledge,  drawn  by  four  strong, 
swift  horses,  and  Theodora  sat  at  their 
feet,  in  the  bottom  of  the  sledge,  cud 
dled  up  in  the  furs,  with  her  head  rest- 
ing  against  her  dear  father  and  mother. 
And  every  little  while  her  father  stroked 
her  rosy  cheeks,  and  her  mother  stooped 


Michael  and  Theodora.  151 

and  kissed  her ;  and  when  they  came  to 
an  inn,  Prince  Ivan,  after  assisting  the 
Princess,  always  came  for  his  little  daugh 
ter  and  carried  her  in  his  arms  to  the 
warm  stove. 

She  did  not  think  this  journey  sad  and 
tiresome.  She  chattered,  and  slept,  and 
thought  of  the  happy  times  before  Michael 
and  herself,  and  she  was  as  merry  as  a 
spring  song  bird.  Yet  as  they  came  near 
to  Bazaroff  she  noticed  a  little  anxious 
cloud  on  the  face  of  Prince  Ivan.  And 
by  and  by  he  spoke  of  the  thing  which 
was  making  him  feel  anxious  and  un 
certain.  He  said,  — 

"Now  that  we  are  so  near  our  home, 
I  think  it  right  to  mention  a  report  that 
came  to  St.  Petersburg  the  very  day 
before  we  left.  I  think  little  about  it; 
it  wanted  every  proof ;  but,  however,  it 
is  this :  that  just  before  Prince  Sergius 
fled,  he  had  a  quarrel  with  Mr.  Cecil, 
whom  he  accused  of  stealing  the  letter, 


152  Michael  and  Theodora. 

and  that  shots  were  fired,  and  it  was 
thought  the  tutor  was  wounded  seriously. 
Again,  it  was  thought  it' was  among  the 
serfs  he  discharged  his  pistol  as  he  left 
the  palace." 

"  But  why,  dear  Ivan  ?  What  had  the 
serfs  done  ?  He  must  have  had  a  reason 
for  such  cruelty. " 

"  On  the  face  of  the  head  steward  he 
saw  a  smile,  and  on  the  faces  of  all  some 
thing  which  angered  him.  He  thought, 
doubtless,  that  every  one  was  in  the  con 
spiracy  against  him,  and  he  fired  into  a 
group  who  stood  around  the  steward  in 
the  courtyard.  I  heard  that  three  were 
dead,  and  others  wounded.  I  think  the 
whole  story  improbable,  or,  at  least,  very 
much  exaggerated." 

"  Yet  it  makes  me  very  anxious  in  my 
heart.  Theodora  has  often  told  us  how 
Sergius  hated  our  Michael.  I  am  afraid 
it  is  our  dear  son  who  is  hurt.  Can  we 
not  make  more  speed  ?  " 


The  escape  from  Bozaroff. 


Michael  and  Theodora.  153 

"The  horses  are  doing  their  utmost; 
and  if  the  heir  to  a  great  name  and  estate 
had  been  wounded  in  the  least,  that  would 
have  been  a  thing  for  certainty.  We 
should  have  heard  the  smallest  particu 
lar.  To  hurt  Michael  is  a  wound  to  the 
Empire ;  the  Czar  himself  would  have 
been  informed.  And  I  am  sure  Mr.  Cecil 
would  protect  Michael,  even  with  his  own 
life." 

"  Then  it  is  most  likely  Mr.  Cecil  who 
suffers.  And  he  is  our  tried  friend.  I 
am  now  most  anxious  to  reach  Bazaroff. 
And  yet  I  fear,  lest  I  am  hurrying  to 
meet  trouble." 

"  I  do  not  fear  any  calamity.  Sergius 
was  ever  a  great  coward.  He  would 
think  only  of  his  own  safety.  If  he  was 
bent  on  flight,  nothing  on  earth  would 
stay  him  for  one  moment." 

Still,  after  this  confidence,  the  Princess 
and  Theodora  found  themselves  unable  to 
converse.  They  were  watching  for  the 


154  Michael  and  Theodora. 

first  glimpse  of  the  rounded  towers  of 
Bazaroff.  It  was  the  middle  of  the  day 
when  they  saw  them.  As  they  drew 
nearer,  it  was  evident  that  they  were 
watched  for  and  expected.  They  could 
see  the  people  gathering  around  the  vast, 
square  building,  standing  in  the  midst  of 
its  bare,  white  plain.  Their  dark  figures 
upon  the  dazzling  snow,  and  against  the 
still,  clear  horizon,  were  sharply  defined. 
And  the  gates  stood  open,  and  the 
bloodhounds  were  scampering  about  the 
outskirts  of  the  palace. 

There  was  a  solitary  figure  at  the  en 
trance,  and  the  Prince  Ivan  said  de 
cidedly,  "It  is  Mr.  Cecil.  Therefore, 
dear  Nadia,  he  is  not  injured." 

The  Princess  did  not  answer,  neither 
did  Theodora.  There  were  fears  in  each 
heart  they  did  not  like  to  voice ;  but 
when  they  reached  the  palace,  and  saw  no 
one  but  Mr.  Cecil  and  Matrina  to  welcome 
them,  the  father  and  mother  and  sister  of 


Michael  and  TJicodora.  155 

Michael  turned  pale  as  if  smitten  with 
death.  The  serfs  indeed  crowded  around 
the  sledge  with  affectionate  greetings  and 
tears  of  joy ;  but  Prince  Ivan  found  it 
difficult  to  answer.  He  could  only  lay  his 
hands  across  his  breast,  and  then  out 
stretch  them  with  a  blessing ;  and  as  he 
did  so,  they  entered  the  court,  and  Mr. 
Cecil  and  Matrina  were  at  their  side. 

There  was  a  moment  of  silent  embra 
cing,  and  then  Prince  Ivan  said  in  a  voice 
of  terror,  "  But  where,  then,  is  Michael  ?  " 
And  the  poor  mother  looked  eagerly  into 
Mr.  Cecil's  face,  for  she  was  speechless 
with  fear,  while  Theodora  cried  out,  — 

"  Michael !  Michael !  Where  is  Mi 
chael,  Matrina?" 

"  Michael  is  ill,"  answered  the  tutor 
gravely.  "  He  is  very  ill.  Just  now  he 
is  sleeping  heavily.  He  has  taken  a  pow 
erful  narcotic.  Watching  had  made  him 
so  feverish,  I  thought  it  best  to  put  him 
to  sleep." 


156  Micliacl  and  Theodora. 

"111!  111!  Michael  ill!"  All  were 
filled  with  a  quick  terror  of  some  great 
misfortune,  and  no  other  word  was  spoken 
until  they  were  in  the  great  dining-hall, 
where  Matrina  laid  the  Princess  on  a 
couch,  and  the  Prince  and  Theodora  and 
Mr.  Cecil  stood  by  her  side. 

Then  the  Prince  asked,  u  What  has 
happened  to  Michael,  Mr.  Cecil?"  and 
Mr.  Cecil,  speaking  with  a  kind  of 
triumph,  answered,— 

"  Nothing  to  weep  for  or  to  lament 
over.  I  think,  indeed,  that  Michael  gives 
you  the  grandest  of  welcomes." 

"But  he  is  ill!  And  how  then  ?  And 
why?" 

"He  was  shot  by  Prince  Sergius!" 

"  Permit  me  —  I  must  go  at  once  to  my 
boy." 

"  Pardon,  my  Princess.  He  is  at  the  pres 
ent  hour  not  to  be  disturbed  with  safety. 
Listen  with  patience.  I  assure  you  there 
is  no  occasion  for  weeping,  or  for  hurry." 


MicJiael  and  Theodora.  157 

"  To  be  sure  !  "  said  the  Prince.  "  Let 
us  be  quiet  and  patient.  How  was  our 
dear  boy  shot?" 

"I  will  tell  you  all.  On  the  morning 
that  Prince  Sergius  received  the  'warn 
ing  '  from  Kergoff  that  all  their  plot  was 
discovered,  and  he  himself  in  prison,  the 
Prince  came  to  the  schoolroom  in  a  storm 
of  raging  passion.  I  heard  him  coming, 
and  I  knew  that  we  had  to  face  a  mad 
man.  You  could  hear  him  breathing  like 
a  wild  animal  ere  he  flung  the  door  wide 
open  and  stood  within  the  room. 

u  I  perceived  that  he  was  dangerous, 
and  I  ordered  Michael  to  go  away,  but 
his  uncle  would  not  suffer  him.  He 
seized  the  boy  by  the  throat,  and  so  com 
pelled  him  to  listen  to  words  that  are  not 
fit  to  be  repeated. 

"Michael  looked  bravely  in  his  face. 
'  You  are  stronger  than  I  am,  and  I  must 
stand,'  he  said,  '  but  I  do  not  listen  !  You 
are  only  lyiny  about  those  whose  names 


158  Micliacl  and  Theodora. 

you  should  fear  to  speak.''  Then  Sergius 
struck  Michael  in  the  face  ;  but  the  boy 
was  not  daunted.  He  spoke  the  more 
loudly  and  firmly,  '•My  father  is  truth 
and  honor!  My  mother  is  like  the  anyeh! 
It  is  you,  Prince  Sergius,  who  are  a  liar, 
and  a  thief,  and  a  cowardly  Judas ! '  I 
thought  surely  that  Prince  Sergius  would 
at  these  words  strangle  the  child,  and  I 
strove  to  take  him  from  his  grasp  and 
partially  succeeded,  but  Michael  was  by 
this  time  beyond  all  fear  or  care,  and 
he  continued,  '•Kill  me  if  you  so  please. 
What  do  I  care  now?  I  know  that  my 
father  and  mother  are  free  !  I  know  that 
the  Emperor  has  heard  all!  I  know  that 
my  father  will  be  here  soon,  that  he  is 
coming  now!'' 

"  At  these  words  Prince  Sergius  turned 
in  mortal  terror,  and  I  took  advantage 
of  his  fear.  'I  beseech  you  to  fly,  Prince,' 
I  said.  '  Your  sledge  is  at  the  door !  It 
is,  indeed,  your  life  or  death.'  '  You  are 


MicJiacl  and   Tlieodora.  159 

a  pack  of  traitors,'  lie  screamed.  '  You 
boy !  and  you  Englishman  !  and  you ! 
and  you ! '  He  lired  three  times  at 
Michael  as  he  spoke,  then  at  myself,  and 
again  and  again  at  the  serfs  who  had 
gathered  on  the  steps  and  in  the  court. 
Some  of  them  cursed  him ;  and  there 
was  a  decided  movement  to  prevent  him 
leaving  Bazaroff.  But  he  seized  the  reins 
and  the  whip,  and  so,  lashing  those  who 
came  within  reach  of  the  lashes,  he  left 
Bazaroff  in  a  frantic  gallop,  and  there 
has  been  nothing  heard  or  seen  of  him 
since  that  hour." 

"But  were  not  officers  of  justice  here 
to  arrest  him?" 

"  Yes ;  they  searched  the  neighbor 
hood  for  the  road  he  had  taken  ;  but  it 
was  snowing  when  he  left,  and  it  snowed 
for  three  days  afterwards,  so  that  all 
tracks  made  by  the  horses  and  sledge 
were  obliterated  as  soon  as  made." 

"  And  what  has  been  done  for  Michael  ? 


160  Michael  and  Theodora. 

Is  he  likely  to  live  ?  "  asked  the  sorrowful 
parents. 

"  I  sent  to  Malkoff  for  the  famous 
Dr.  Livadin.  At  first  the  wounds  did 
well,  but  he  has  suffered  much,  and  is 
likely  to  suffer  for  many  months.  How 
ever,  there  are  good  hopes  for  the  dear 
child's  life." 

Thus  they  sat  and  talked  for  some 
time  of  the  great  tragedy  which  had  been 
enacted  in  all  their  lives,  and  softly  and 
full  of  love  the  parents  and  sister  of  the 
little  hero  went  to  his  bedside  and 
watched  for  his  awakening ;  but  it  was 
not  until  the  sun  dropped  low  that 
Michael  opened  his  eyes. 

He  found  his  father  bending  over  him, 
and  in  a  moment  his  mother  and  Theo 
dora  were  kissing  him  with  tears  of  pity 
and  joy.  Is  it  possible  to  imagine  all 
they  said  to  him?  No,  it  is  impossible. 
For  at  first,  speech  was  too  poor  a  vehicle 
for  their  emotion.  The  meeting  eyes, 


Michael  and  Theodora.  161 

the  meeting  lips,  the  smiles  and  sighs, 
the  hands  clasping  his  hands,  were  far 
more  eloquent  voices. 

Poor  little  wasted  hands,  —  wasted  with 
fever  and  suffering.  His  mother  kissed 
and  wept  over  them.  His  father  praised 
his  bravery  and  honor,  and  said  he 
could  have  done  no  less,  and  no  better, 
than  he  did. 

"  Had  you  permitted  any  one  to  defame 
your  father's  and  your  mother's  good 
name,  how  then  could  you  have  defended 
your  own  ? "  he  asked.  "  Our  honor  is 
yours,  my  dear  son  ;  and  I  thank  God,  I 
have  a  son  so  brave  and  so  true." 

After  this  Michael  improved  rapidly. 
He  was  nursed  by  his  mother.  His  mind 
was  relieved  from  all  anxiety.  He  had 
nothing  to  fear,  nothing  to  do  but  get 
well ;  and  his  recovery  was  more  perfect 
than  his  physician  had  at  first  hoped,  or 
dared  to  promise.  When  the  summer 
came,  he  was  able  to  walk  a  little,  leaning 


1 62  Michael  and   Theodora. 

on  his  father's  arm  ;  and  though  he  was 
long  weak,  he  was  neither  crippled  nor 
disfigured  by  the  three  bullets,  which 
had  been  his  uncle's  parting  evidence  of 
hatred  and  revenge. 

There  was  only  one  complaint  to 
make:  Prince  Ivan  thought  that  Count 
Vasil  ought  to  have  been  informed  of 
Michael's  condition ;  and  he  doubted 
whether,  in  this  matter,  Mr.  Cecil  had 
done  wisely  to  be  silent.  Hut  Mr. 
Cecil  said,  "  Michael  entreated  me  not 
to  send  any  word  which  would  shadow  his 
sister's  first  Christmas.  He  thought  he 
would  be  out  of  danger  when  she  came 
back,  and  as  for  the  suffering,  he  bore 
that  without  complaint."  And  Mr.  Cecil 
added,  "  You  must  also  see,  Prince,  that 
it  was  prudent  to  let  the  patient  have 
whatever  was  necessary  to  keep  his 
mind  at  ease." 

"I  see  indeed  that  you  have  done  all 
things  well,  Mr.  Cecil,"  answered  Prince 


MicJiacl  and  Theodora.  163 

Ivan.  "  You  have  been  my  great,  true 
friend.  In  a  whole  lifetime,  I  can 
never  love  you  enough.  What  shall  1 
do  to  show  my  love  ? " 

"  Suffer  me  to  remain  with    Michael." 

"  That  is  but  another  favor  on  your 
part." 

So  the  tutor  and  scholar  remained 
close  companions.  They  studied  to 
gether,  and  they  travelled  together,  and 
they  did  not  part  for  one  day,  until 
Michael  was  ready  to  take  his  com 
mission  from  the  Emperor,  and  join  the 
regiment  which  his  father,  Prince  Ivan, 
commanded.  Then  Mr.  Cecil  went  back 
to  England,  and  he  married  a  fair 
sweet  girl,  and  they  are  living  happily 
together  at  this  very  day.  And  their 
eldest  son  is  called  Michael,  and  it  is 
very  certain  he  knows  the  story  of 
Michael  Bazaroff  as  well  as  he  knows 
his  own  name. 

As  for  the   Princess  Theodora,   she    is 


164  Michael  and  Theodora. 

now  a  very  great  Princess  indeed.  She 
lives  among  kings  and  queens,  and  there 
is  no  splendor  or  majesty  or  luxury  that 
is  not  common  as  daily  bread  to  her. 
But  she  has  kept  through  all  temptations 
her  child's  heart,  its  purity  and  piety, 
and  loving  care  for  others.  Many  people 
say  that  she  is  not  gay  looking,  but 
nevertheless  she  is  very  happy.  Only, 
the  great  sorrow  of  her  girlhood  has  been 
like  the  soft  pedal  to  a  piano;  it  has 
softened  and  sweetened  all  the  loud,  high 
notes  of  ambition,  and  unlimited  wealth, 
and  high  station. 

For  she  has  never  forgotten  the  priva 
tions,  the  fears,  and  the  sorrowful  heart 
ache  of  her  early  years ;  and  to  her  own 
happy  girls  and  boys  she  tells  very 
often  the  story  lived  through  in  that 
long,  bare  room  at  Bazaroff ;  the  gloom, 
the  loneliness,  and  the  terror  that  dwelt 
there  with  them.  These  little  people 
know  all  about  Mr.  Cecil  and  Matrina. 


Michael  and  Theodora.  165 

and  what  the  brave  boy  said  to  the 
wicked  Prince  Sergius  when  he  spoke 
evil  of  his  father  and  mother. 

And  certainly  they  always  think  and 
speak  of  these  things  when  they  see 
Michael  in  his  glittering  uniform,  rid 
ing  at  the  head  of  his  regiment,  and 
looking  like  the  hero  he  really  was,  when 
he  gave  Prince  Sergius  the  lie  to  his 
face,  and  expecting,  but  not  fearing, 
death,  defended  the  honor  of  his  father 
and  mother  at  all  odds. 

Sometimes  also  in  the  winter  nights, 
when  the  great  snows  were  falling  and 
the  arctic  cold  was  cruel  and  hardly  to 
be  borne,  Theodora'  would  gather  the 
children  around  her  knee,  and  in  a  low 
voice  tell  how  Prince  Sergius  galloped 
away  from  Bazaroff  that  fearful  day  and 
was  never  seen  again  by  any  mortal. 
"  The  snow  was  falling  thick  when  he 
went,  it  came  faster  and  faster,  the  night 
fell  early,  it  was  a  dark?  bitter  night" ; 


1 66  Michael  and  Theodora. 

and  at  this  point  the  Princess  Theodora 
would  generally  cease  speaking.  Then 
one  of  her  little  children  would  ask  in 
awed  tones,— 

"  What  came  of  Prince  Sergius,  dearest 
mother?" 

And  the  answer  was  ever  the  same,  — 

"Only  God  knows,  certainly,  dear 
children.  But  listen!  I  will  tell  you 
what  is  known.  When  the  snow  went 
away  in  the  spring  — 

"Yes,  mother?" 

"When  the  snow  went  away  in  the 
spring,  some  peasants  found  heside  a 
broken  sledge  — 

"  What  did  the  peasants  find,  dear 
mother  ?  " 

"  They  found  part  of  his  clothing, 
and  —  and  — 

"  What  else  did  they  find  ?  " 

"Alas,  my  dears,  the}'  found  also  a 
mangled  skeleton  ! " 

»  Oh!   Oh!" 


Michael  and  Theodora.  167 

"  It  was  all  that  the  wolves  had  left !  " 

"  Oh!  Oh! /"  with  a  great  sigh  from 
each  little  heart,  and  a  long  silence.  Then 
finally  from  Theodora,  — 

"  My  dear  children,  it  was  the  death  of 
a  bad  man.  It  is  most  true,  that  if  you 
are  good,  everything  will  turn  to  your 
good ;  but  if  you  do  evil,  everything  will 
then  turn  to  your  sorrow  and  destruc 
tion." 

And  one  night  as  they  sat  talking  of 
these  things,  the  good  patriarch  of  St. 
Petersburg  came  into  the  room,  and  he 
sat  down  and  listened  to  the  whole  story ; 
and  when  it  was  finished,  he  took  the 
eldest  child  of  Theodora  upon  his  knee, 
and  he  said  to  him,  — 

"  Michael  Kazan,  this  is  a  story  for  the 
Bazaroffs  and  the  Kazans  to  be  very  proud 
of.  From  it  you  may  learn  that  the 
wicked  and  cruel  man  —  he  that  plotteth 
mischief  and  evil  —  is  not  unseen  by  the 
good  God,  who  is  sure  to  punish  him  for 


1 68  Michael  and  Theodora. 

it.  And  now,  Michael  Kazan,  tell  me 
who  it  was  that  righted  the  wrongs  of 
Prince  Ivan  Bazaroff,  and  the  wrongs  of 
his  wife  and  children  ?  " 

And  Michael  Kazan,  looking  very  proud 
and  happy,  answered,  — 

"  God  righted  the  wrong !  God  and 
two  little  children." 


THE    END. 


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